Denali Elementary students plant two trees for Arbor Day

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Fairbanks just got a little greener today.

The Fairbanks Arbor Day Committee, Borough Mayor Bryce Ward, and two classes from Denali Elementary gathered today in Growden Park to learn about the history of Arbor Day. The students planted a couple of trees while Mayor Ward read off a proclamation announcing recognition of Arbor Day in our community.

The two groups of students from Denali presented to their peers and attendees two poems they had written for the occasion. Afterwards, shovels were passed out and the students participated in a friendly competition to see who could plant their group’s tree the fastest.

Set by the state legislature in the 1960′s, Arbor Day is celebrated in Alaska on the third Monday in May. Typically by now the earth is easier to dig up, however, due to our prolonged winter, there was a little difficulty digging into the still-cold ground.

Fairbanks Arbor Day committee member, Ritchie Musick, said, “Some years like this year the ground is still frozen so we’re not planting at the number of schools like we usually do. We’re out here trying to dig through the permafrost, or I should say dig into the frozen ground, in order to get these trees into the ground.”

However, frozen ground didn’t stop the committee from celebrating and sharing the importance and value that trees offer.

Musick added, “The main purpose of Arbor Day is not so much for adults as it is to teach children to respect and value trees and all the things they offer us. That’s why we focus on school children and try to get them to plant either at a public place, or at a park nearby, or on the school grounds”

The Arbor Day Foundation reflects on the first Arbor Day celebrated all the way back in 1872 where it’s estimated that over one million trees were planted.

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