Naselle preschoolers take part in Arbor Day

In the spirit of Arbor Day, three, four and five year olds attending Naselle Play and Learn came together this week to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

Led by their teacher, Megan Tienharra, preschool students learned about Arbor Day through various activities. Tienhaara displayed different parts of trees on a nature table which included bark, needles, branches, leaves, buds and cones.

Then continuing a national tradition that first began in April, 1872, students worked with Campbell Group Forest Engineer Jeff Linquist of Grays River to get their hands dirty and brighten up their surroundings. Students planted Sitka Spruce trees around their school then each planted individual trees into clay pots to take home.

“Jeff did such an awesome job with the kids--I was so impressed. Everything was so organized and the kids were excited to have their very own tree. Aliya (Tienhaara) made up a song about hers and sings to it every day. I think the kids will remember that for a very long time.”

National Arbor Day is the Last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates according to their best tree-planting times. Because Washington is nicknamed The Evergreen State for its copious evergreen forests, Washington’s Department of Natural Resources recognized Arbor Day, not just on April 11 (the state appointed day the second Wednesday of the month), but throughout the entire month. Communities all over Washington will join the cause throughout April and plant hundreds of thousands of trees in an effort to replant the nation’s forests.