It was a big day for Sutherland School on Thursday, when students of all ages grabbed shovels and watering cans to make a field at the school a little more greener.
The elementary school partnered with SOS Trees Coalition in Saskatoon for a tree-planting day.
Linda Moskalyk, the president of the organization, said 70 trees and shrubs that grow naturally in Saskatchewan will be planted in the schoolyard.
Some of the plants the schoolyard will see this year are oak, Manitoba maple and Saskatoon berries.
“We need to see more trees planted where there’s young people and students,” said Moskalyk, adding the trees planted will create an outdoor classroom space for students to connect with nature and teach them about the importance of trees.
As the trees keep growing, students will be able to enjoy them throughout the years.
“It’s a legacy for these children,” Moskalyk said.
From putting the shovel in the ground, placing the trees, adding mulch and watering, Moskalyk said members of the organization walk students through the entire planting process.
“For every tree that’s planted, we’re educating them,” she said, noting many of the students were engaged and excited.
Andrew Crush, a Grade 6 student, was planting an apple tree in the schoolyard and said he was on to his second one.
“(We’re) nurturing them and learning about how they will help you later in life,” he said, adding he learned a lot and had fun in the process.
“Some (trees) might give you fruits, others might give you oxygen and shade,” the elementary student said.
The tree-planting day was part of the SOS Trees Coalition’s Arbor Week, and this year’s theme was “healthy trees, healthy people,” Moskalyk said.
This year, the organization’s focus was the importance of surrounding oneself in nature, which can benefit both your mental and physical health, she explained.
“We’ve read so much research about that and how it improves people’s feelings about life in general,” she said.