NORFOLK, NE - Area kindergarteners discovered just how much fun learning about trees can be at Northeast Community College’s annual Arbor Day celebration held recently.
Over 100 kindergarteners from Washington and Woodland Park elementary schools in Norfolk and Winside Elementary attended the tree-planting and education event held in the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex on the Northeast campus. Forty-three Northeast students from the Art Education, Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education programs assisted the children at the event.
“Not only is the event fun for the kindergarteners, but it is fun to see our students and our physical plant staff get involved and share with the children the importance of trees and what they do for the environment,” said Faye Kilday, dean of humanities, arts and social sciences.
Kilday said the event is designed to demonstrate that Arbor Day should involve more than simply planting trees, but learning about them, too. Each child also received a t-shirt and a tree “cookie” necklace that identified them by name. Upon arrival at the Ag Complex, students were divided into groups by the color of their t-shirts and assigned to Northeast students who guided the groups through seven stations.
In addition to a demonstration on proper planting techniques, the kindergarteners participated in lessons that explained what trees need to grow, the lifecycle of an apple, how tree roots absorb water and nutrients, as well as an obstacle course and other activities.
Jamie Bachmann, with the Northern Prairies Land Trust, spoke to the students about owls and other animals that live in trees.
Each child was able to trace their hands to represent leaves on a tree banner with the school’s name to take back to their classrooms. Teachers were also given a package of Blue Spruce tree saplings to hand out to their kindergartners after they returned to school.
At the conclusion of the day, the kids watched Steve Rasmussen, district forester with the Nebraska Forest Service, and Shawn Sayers, associate director grounds at Northeast, plant a tree near the front entrance to the Ag Complex.
“The entire event was a learning opportunity for everyone,” Kilday said.
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PHOTO CUTLINE
Steve Rasmussen, district forester with the Nebraska Forest Service, and Shawn Sayers, associate director grounds at Northeast, plant a tree near the front entrance to the Chuck M. Pohlman Agriculture Complex as part of an Arbor Day event for area kindergarten students recently. Forty-three Northeast students from the Art Education, Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education programs assisted the children at the event.