.jpg)
HARTINGTON — Earth Day and Arbor Day are special days set aside to recognize the importance of trees and natural resources. They also provide an ideal opportunity to teach our youth about the value of trees in our lives.
Trees are integral to life as we know it, from the food they provide and the shade they offer to the wildlife habitat they create and the countless products humans derive from them. It is important to teach the nation’s youth to understand, respect, and protect trees and other natural resources.
The Lewis & Clark Natural Resources District provides seedlings to area kindergarten classrooms. This year, LCNRD presented seedlings to eleven kindergarten classrooms, including Creighton, Bloomfield, Crofton, East/ West Elementary, St. Rose, Hartington-Newcastle, Holy Trinity Elementary, Allen, Wynot, and Ponca/ Jackson.
During each classroom visit, a story called “Worm Makes a Sandwich,” by Brianne Farley, was read to the kindergarteners. It depicts a worm’s journey, helping grow vegetables for the dinner table. Then, the kindergarteners participated in a tree life cycle activity in which they pretended to grow from seed into large oak trees, which was a big hit! The kids were also instructed, with adult supervision, on how to plant their seedlings and where to plant them properly. The last few minutes are set aside for questions and silly tree stories that the students want to share.
Conservation partners delivered trees and facilitated Arbor Day programs to 4th graders in Crofton and Hartington.
LCNRD offers a variety of hands-on activities, classroom presentations, career exploration, and more! All activities are free of charge and presented by an LCNRD Information and Education Technician!
Most activities can be adjusted to fit specific classroom needs for kindergarten through 12th grade. To find a list of educational activities, call the office at 402-254-6758 or go to https:// lcnrd.nebraska.gov/education/classroom-presentationsactivities.
