Grant brings new trees to Lone Tree school

By Giovanni Coronel
Posted 10/11/22

It was a chilly morning this past Friday in Lone Tree, but it didn’t stop the students at Lone Tree Elementary from being pumped up about tree planting. What’s not exciting about the …

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Grant brings new trees to Lone Tree school

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It was a chilly morning this past Friday in Lone Tree, but it didn’t stop the students at Lone Tree Elementary from being pumped up about tree planting. What’s not exciting about the process of planting trees for these kiddos? The excuse for these young students to play with dirt and use a shovel were aspects they found fun. Then there is an aspect one would not think of as being particularly thrilling, getting to use mulch, but the students broke into a “mulch” chant whenever it was time to use the surprisingly popular bag of compost.

This tree planting event came about from the Lone Tree Community School District being the recipient of the DNR Community Forestry Grant Program, from which they received a $10,000 grant. Half of the funds came from the DNR, and the other half came from the Community Foundation of Johnson County. The grant money allowed the school to plant a variety of up to 24 trees on the school grounds.

Three of the trees planted were elm trees, a type of tree with great significance to the Lone Tree Community. The Lone Tree Elm Tree, which the town was named after, was replanted this past summer by the Viner family during Fall Festival. Most of the trees planted this past Friday have a 300–500-year lifespan.

It was the Lone Tree Elementary students who have had the privilege of planting most of the trees and they had the help of parents who volunteered. There is also a plan of second grade students getting to plant two trees next week.

This event was also assisted by the Department of Natural Resources, Johnson County Community Foundation, Julie’s Fountain of Flowers, the Lone Tree Lions Club, and REC, who augured most of the holes for planting. The middle school and high school students weren’t completely left out of the fun, as they helped dig several holes that auger trucks couldn’t reach, filled water bags, and placed those water bags around the trees.

The types of trees planted included elms, locust, ginkgos, lindens, planetrees, sycamores, oaks, and maples.

“One of our Lone Tree staff reminded our students, as they made a picture next to the trees they planted, to be sure and retake their photo when they graduate,” commented superintendent Kurt DeVore about the event. “As students plant these trees, they are planning and preparing for not only their future but for future generations to come. These memories and legacy will also help them remember their roots when they come to school each day and when their children and grandchildren walk past these trees as they grow.”