The Blue Ridge Watershed Coalition (BRWC)
planted 12 shade trees at Blue Ridge Primary School in
Jefferson County, WV. BRWC volunteers picked up the trees
and augured the holes with a hand-held augur on April 13th,
2013. The auger took about a minute to dig a hole that could
take maybe 10 to 15 minutes to dig with a shovel, which
allowed the volunteer group to finish prepping the site
(digging the tree holes) in just two hours with the auger.
The tree planting took place April 15
and the weather was perfect, no rain and the temperature was
in the mid 70's. The 12 shade trees were planted in the
rear playground area at the Blue Ridge Primary school.
There were 173 students with 15 parents/teachers who took
part with the actual planting. The students, who were all in
either Kindergarten or First grade, came out in groups of
about 25. Part of the time they spent was education
concerning the benefits of trees, how to plant trees, and
what trees do to make their school better. The students then
took turns filling the tree holes and placing mulch at the
conclusion of the lecture. The children were very energetic
and loved the tree planting. BRWC’s CTree Liaison, Tanner
Haid of Cacapon Institute, led educational activities with
the students and was especially good in speaking to the
students. The trees are now being monitored and maintained
by the Blue Ridge Primary staff, Blue Ridge Primary PTO, and
by the BRWC.
A word from the Project Leader, BRWC
member Carl Drumgoole:
“The students and the staff enjoyed the
hands-on lessons about trees and their benefit to the local
environment.”