District 47 Students Strive to Preserve Area Woodlands

More than 200 bur oak trees were planted by District 47 middle schoolers in the Crystal Lake area last spring.

In collaboration with the Land Conservancy of McHenry County, 7th graders at Hannah Beardsley, Lundahl and Bernotas middle schools participated in the Project Quercus program.

The program was started by the Land Conservancy to engage McHenry county citizens and youth in preserving the aging oak/hickory woodlands in the area.Dave Zeiger, retired Lundahl science teacher and oak conservation outreach specialist for the Conservancy, headed up the program at all three middle schools and also spearheaded development of Lundahl’s amazing prairie.

“Much appreciation goes to District 47 staff and students for collaborating with the Land Conservancy of McHenry County in our efforts to preserve our endangered oak woodlands into the future,” said Zeiger. “Our young citizens planted the oak seedlings with teamwork, care and enthusiasm.” After a brief lesson on woodland conservancy and watching a demonstration on planting, students “dug in.”

Hannah Beardsley students planted 110 trees at the Three Oaks Recreation Area; Bernotas students planted 34 trees at Lippold Park and 33 trees at Four Colonies Park; and students from Lundahl planted 60 trees on the school grounds.

District 47 thanks middle school science teachers and staff as well as its grounds crew for their support of the program.

Source: District 47 press release