By Ainsley Hall
MARTINSBURG — Martinsburg North Middle School partnered with the Martinsburg Shade Tree Commission and several other community organizations to plant trees to celebrate Earth Day and teach students about taking care of the environment.
Representatives from the Martinsburg City Council, City of Martinsburg Public Works Department, City of Martinsburg Stormwater Department and more all attended the event to help plant trees.
On Monday, two seventh-grade science classes worked together with community volunteers to plant several red maple trees and some rose bushes around the North Middle School building. The event was put together by David Anderson, vice president of the Martinsburg Shade Tree Commission.
“Last year, we did this at South Middle School,” Anderson said. “It’s our goal to do this at all the local schools throughout the upcoming years to help students understand the importance of trees. They give us more shade, increase the canopy and do so much more for us, so we want to continue to plant more.”
Anderson reached out to the school’s principal, Rebekah Eyler. She was excited for the opportunity and instantly said they could come.
“He asked if we would be interested, and I said, ‘Absolutely,’” Eyler said. “The community uses this area a lot to take walks and spend some time outside, so I thought it would be great to have some more shade for everyone.”
First, adult volunteers dug holes for the different plants. Then, the students helped spread dirt and mulch to cover the roots. Some students also helped hammer in stakes to support the trees as they grow.
Once they were done, the stormwater employees prepared a rain barrel demonstration, where they told the students how they can make their own rain barrel to water their plants and save water. Colleen Seager, stormwater technician, showed them how they can drill holes in a gutter and attach a tube to help the rain to run into the barrel.
Eyler said that this was an important opportunity for students, not just because it teaches them the importance of Earth Day, but it gives them the chance to give back to others.
“First, it gets the kids outside,” Eyler said. “It also teaches the students about the importance of planting trees and how to give back to the community. Volunteering isn’t just about helping people financially but giving your time and energy.”
For some of the students, it was their first time planting something. It was a great opportunity to educate students on plants and taking care of the Earth, while also doing something important for their community.