If you noticed a little extra mud on your second grader’s shoes yesterday afternoon, we have a fantastic explanation! Yesterday morning, our entire EEMS second-grade team traded their classrooms for the great outdoors at the Jordan Homestead Preserve. Their mission? To celebrate Maine Arbor Week by planting a whopping 80 trees – right alongside the 80 we planted last year!
This is the third year in a row that our entire second grade team has teamed up for this awesome annual activity. Our students rolled up their sleeves, grabbed their shovels, and jumped right into the dirt. They learned how to handle root balls, dig the perfect holes, and give these young saplings the best possible start! There was a lot of heavy lifting, a ton of teamwork, quite a few worms found (and safely put back) and—of course—plenty of smiles!
Of course, we couldn’t do it on our own – and our school had a ton of help from these awesome local partners! A huge shout out to:
Green Ellsworth
The Ellsworth Garden Club
The City of Ellsworth
Tree City USA (An Arbor Day Foundation Program)
Frenchman Bay Conservancy
Maine Conservation Corps
For now, the trees will remain snug in the homes our kids placed them in until they mature. Then, the coolest part of this activity: after a few years, these trees will be dug up and replanted across the city of Ellsworth!
🌲 Fun Fact: Because of awesome efforts like this, Ellsworth proudly holds the title of a designated Tree City USA community. Way to go, second grade—you are officially our future environmental heroes!