TASSS Students Make Clintonia Park Greener With Tree and Shrub Planting
/Grade 11 students from Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS) of the Outdoor Leadership program have made Peterborough a little greener with Otonabee Conservation as they planted shrubs and trees at Clintonia Park on Thursday.
The students planted 64 red osier dogwood, fragrant sumac and potentilla shrubs. In addition, they planted 17 trees including white spruce, hackberry, honey locust, freeman maple and serviceberry.
These native species of trees and shrubs were planted to increase diversity and habitat, protect water quality and stabilize the shoreline along a tributary of Curtis Creek, which runs through the park.
“This project is part of the overall revitalization of Clintonia Park,” said Elana Arthurs, CAO at the Township of Douro-Dummer. “We are excited to work with so many partners to plant trees and shrubs that will benefit wildlife, naturalize the park, and enhance the Donwood area.”
TASSS Student Ella Perritt gathers the used tree-planter pots the shrubs were contained in. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The students said the tree-planting session was a great alternative hands-on learning experience from being in the classroom.
“Stuff like this makes school more enjoyable instead of sitting in the classroom all day,” said Ella Perritt, grade 11 student.
TASSS student Gideon Botting aiding in tearing down the silk fence before planting the shrubs. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Others want to pursue this line of work after graduating from high school.
“I actually want to be doing this in the future as well,” said Gideon Botting, grade 11 student. “I’m hoping to get into being a park warden. I just love being out in nature. It’s where I feel at peace and at home.”
Lilah Hotrum, TASS Grade 11 student, rolls up the silk fence that was taken down by the TASSS students before planting the shrubs and trees. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The Otonabee Conservation has been getting students to plant trees for the last 60 years while focusing more on high school students this year for the Pathway to Stewardship and Kindship program for nurturing healthy and engaged children and youth.
“It’s so important to get students outside,” said Meredith Carter, of Otonabee Conservation. “This way, they get some hands-on experience, they can see it and they can touch it so this is a critical part of the experience and fits in well with the goals of the Outdoor Leadership program.”
Christopher Nadeau-Lavalee, grade 11 student, planting his shrub after digging up hole. Students were given a demo on hole-digging before they went to work. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
