SAVING THE PLANET: Fourth graders at Riverside Elementary School successfully completed a year-long fundraising and tree-planting project last week, with some help from the Princeton Shade Tree Commission and the Princeton Education Foundation. (Photo by Janet Walder)

By Donald Gilpin

The fourth graders at Riverside Elementary School saw a collaborative project with the Princeton Shade Tree Commission (STC) come to fruition last week when two young trees were planted in the Riverside playground area.

The seven-month endeavor, also supported by the Princeton Education Foundation, began early last September during the fourth graders’ afternoon recess period. The playground had recently lost several trees, and five of Terry McGovern and Allie Klapsogeorge’s students decided to collect acorns and sell them in order to raise money to acquire a new tree for the playground.

McGovern suggested that they contact their local Shade Tree Commission (STC) to get some help with the project. Fortunately the Riverside in-house substitute teacher, Raymond DeVoe, also happened to be a member of the STC.

In late September the children wrote a letter to the STC, expressing their desire to add trees to their playground and stating in part, “We know you are working towards a town full of trees, and we would like to do the same starting in our small school community.” They signed the letter “Some kids wanting to save the Earth.”

It worked. The STC introduced and passed a resolution to contribute $500 to the project, the Princeton Education Foundation pledged a matching grant at about the same time, and the fourth graders’ project was underway.

“This was a fabulous community project,” said DeVoe. “In addition to being exactly what our Shade Tree Commission’s main message is, to try and raise awareness of the importance of trees and the tree canopy to our community, this also enabled and empowered the children to learn that they can make a difference in and have a powerfully positive influence on their community.”

Municipal Arborist Taylor Sapudar made a number of visits to the school, providing recommendations on species of trees and location. After several conversations with the fourth graders, they narrowed down their species wish list to two, sweet birch and redbud.

“I’m happy the children took the initiative on this project and persevered,” said McGovern, as quoted in a press release. “They spent so much of their free time, and many of their recesses, writing to the STC, having meetings with Mr. Achtau, our principal, to ask permission, discussing types of trees. It was quite the community involvement learning experience.”

Riverside Principal Max Achtau agreed. “I’m incredibly proud of our fourth graders,” he said. “These trees demonstrate the great spirit of community in our Riverside children and a level of dedication I really admire.”

On the day when the trees were delivered and planted early last week, the fourth graders assisted by scooping shovelfuls of dirt to support the healthy young trees in their new homes.

“It was really a memorable experience and we had a lot of fun doing it,” said 10-year-old Eleanor Tannous.

“Seeing our students’ enthusiasm over the past several months has been inspiring to watch,” said Klapsogeorge. “I am so proud of our fourth graders and their passion towards making change with the help of our Riverside community. Have no doubt this group of students will carry this positive leadership experience with them and continue making our world a better place.”

Taking an even broader perspective, DeVoe noted, “It is a delightful notion that these trees might, once mature, provide a sense of pride among this year’s Riverside fourth graders if they bring their future families and children to the playground and say, ‘My fourth grade class planted those trees.’”

Fourth grader Lila Depenbrock also reflected on their accomplishment. “It was a fun process. When the trees went in I could tell the class was so excited,” she said. “I always loved when Mr. DeVoe came into the classroom giving us updates month by month. It was so cool how the process grew, and now we are here. We can come back in a few years and see those beautiful trees that we know we planted.”

Fourth grader Quinn Arrington contemplated the results of the project: “If we all plant one tree, slowly but surely I believe the Earth will recover. If we all help, one tree at a time, together we can save our planet, and therefore save ourselves.”