Nearly 180 first graders from five Bay View schools participated in the 21st annual Tree Day celebration at Humboldt Park.
The students enjoyed walking tours of the park to learn to identify trees, birds, and animals and also worked together to build a “tree” in a craft workshop led by Wehr Nature Center staff.
Tree Day was founded in 1998 by the late Ruth Simos, a Bay View resident who was concerned children were not playing outdoors and spending too much time in front of TV and computer screens. Tree Day helps students learn about the importance of trees, parks and nature. It is sponsored by the nonprofit Humboldt Park Friends in conjunction with the Milwaukee County Parks Department, City of Milwaukee Urban Forestry Department and Wehr Nature Center. Special thanks to Jane LeCapitanie and Laureen Stirmel for leading the effort and organizing this event.
Below is some news coverage of the event:
Students from Lisa Kerr’s first grade class at Saint Lucas School in Bay View look at pieces of paper bearing their names after they were put in a hole where a tree would be planted at Humboldt Park on Wednesday morning. Putting their names at the root of the tree gave the children ownership of the Bald Cypress being planted.
Keith Antoniewicz (left) sets a Bald Cypress tree into the ground while Milwaukee County Parks Forestry Supervisor Gregg Collins shovels dirt around the tree’s roots in front of first graders from Saint Lucas School during the 21st annual Tree Day at Humboldt Park in Bay View.
Keith Stepniewski of the Milwaukee County Parks Department (in gray shirt) gets help planting a Bald Cypress tree from first grade students from Saint Lucas School in Bay View on Wednesday.