“Kids and Trees” Planting Program

In 2005 Andy Willemsen, a teacher at the River Valley Charter School approached the Tree Committee to offer the services of several classes in a project. The quantity and potential energy of the students matched up with a goal of the Tree Committee to plant 100 new trees in 2006.

In the program students go out and find appropriate street sites, learning mapping skills and how to evaluate sites for appropriateness.

After the site list is completed and just before the Arbor Day planting date, the sites are flagged, checked by our local Dig Safe and, the day before the planting holes, dug by volunteers or the Newburyport DPW.

On Arbor Day, teams of children and parent volunteers pick up the trees, a site assignment list, and fan out over the city planting. In 2006, 110 trees were planted and 2007, 165 trees were planted!