Scouts plant trees, set record for Arbor Day

Photo By Master Sgt. Kelly Simon | Scouts from Fort Drum Pack 26 take a break after digging a hole to plant a large Spruce tree at Zenda Farms Preserve in Clayton for Arbor Day, April 29. The Scouts volunteered to help plant trees as part of their community service project.  

CLAYTON, NY, UNITED STATES

04.29.2017

Courtesy Story

10th Mountain Division

The Thousand Island Land Trust hosted the tree planting at Zenda Farms Preserve to celebrate Arbor Day. The event, running for the past five years, relies on community volunteers to plant multiple species of trees including spruce, oak, and of course, sugar maple.
“The event averages 80-90 people, but this year we have record numbers with over 250 people. We planted 150 trees in the past four years. We doubled the amount of trees this year with the amount of participants,” said, Terra Bach, TILT Coordinator of Education and Outreach.
Sgt. 1st Class Tom Brown, operations non-commissioned officer in charge for the 925th Contracting Battalion, U.S. Mission and Installation Contracting Command, attended the event with his son Zane, a first year Lion in Cub Scouts. Brown was a Boy Scout and appreciates the values that Scouts teach, “I was a Scout when I was little…I wanted my son to learn valuable life skills.”
As the largest cohort in the event with 87 Scouts and family members, the Scouts also served as unofficial Fort Drum ambassadors. Brown added that the event is an “excellent opportunity to get involved in the community.”
Angel Caskey, the Lion’s Den Leader, and mother of two Cub Scouts, Gabriel and James, enjoyed planting trees with her Scouts and sons. “It’s important for kids to learn about the benefits of planting trees for the Earth,” she explained.
The Scouts from Pack 26 were not the only Fort Drum representation as the Fort Drum Girl Scouts also participated in the event. Other volunteers included Jefferson Community College faculty and students, and members of the local community.
“This is really about getting people on the land and celebrating the importance of Arbor Day,” Bach added about the significance of the event. She recalled visiting the farm as a child adding that, “Zenda Farm Preserve has been iconic for the community. TILT has worked to turn Zenda into an education epicenter for the community for educating the next generation.”
TILT partners also provided displays, crafts and family activities. The partners included; The Minna Anthony Nature Center, Cross Island Farms, Hawn Memorial Library, New York State Zoo, Thousand Island Art Center and Indian River Lakes Conservancy. The Clipper Inn and All Seasons Landscaping sponsored the event, and Subway provided lunch for the participants.
The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from Pack 26 will participate in the District Pinewood Derby on May 6 at Salmon Run Mall. On May 13 Scouts from Troop 26 will celebrate promotions to their next rank at their Scout Camp on Fort Drum.
For more information about Pack 26 contact Katie McFadden at [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 04.29.2017
• Date Posted: 05.03.2017 15:28
• Story ID: 232427
• Location: CLAYTON, NY, US
• Hometown: FORT DRUM, NY, US