April 23, 2021
The public is invited to help celebrate trees and growing food locally during a special day of voluntary planting April 24 at Bannon Park and Community. The event is hosted by numerous local organizations including Shawnee State University’s Campus Tree Care Team.
Since 2016, Shawnee State University has been partnering with Arbor Day Foundation and is recognized as a Tree Campus USA. The Tree Campus Higher Education program helps colleges and universities establish and sustain healthy community forests.
That same year SSU organized a Tree Care Team to manage the requirements needed to be recognized as a Tree Campus USA. Dr. Logan Minter, a professor at SSU, oversees the Tree Care Team.
“The Tree Care Team is responsible for all the trees on campus and is made up of a mixture of students, faculty, facilities professionals, and community members,” Minter said. “Some of my duties include helping students decide whether trees need removed, serviced, and or planted.”
This year for Arbor Day, SSU’s Tree Care Team and Dr. Minter’s Practical Horticulture class wanted to collaborate with Watch Me Grow Ohio (WMGO). This group is a non-profit organization that provides free youth and community programming in sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
WMGO is also partnered with ServeOhio, the state's Commission on Service and Volunteerism. This commission was created to empower local communities to mobilize AmeriCorps members and volunteer resources for the purpose of building a stronger Ohio. ServeOhio awarded WMGO with a grant for this event.
To celebrate Arbor Day this year, community members should come out to Bannon Park on April 24 beginning at 10 a.m. to learn about trees and obtain free tree seedlings grown by SSU students. Volunteers can also assist to serve the community by helping plant gardens that will give back to local families on nearby lots later that afternoon.
“The food from the garden will be distributed to local families in need and to local food banks,” said Amanda Lewis, Senior Program Director for WMGO.
Dr. Minter’s Practical Horticulture class worked with WMGO to design the garden plots. WMGO chose a garden plot design created by Jacob Smathers, SSU Independent Studies Major.
In addition, the Portsmouth Shade Tree Commission has joined to oversee all trees planted on public land within the city of Portsmouth.
The April 24 event is split in two parts and will follow all COVID-19 regulations. The Arbor Day Celebration and Youth Service Day is open to the public of all ages and encourages youth to be accompanied by a guardian/adult.
The Arbor Day event starts at 10 a.m. and visitors will get the opportunity to receive free seed packets and tree seedlings. American Electric Power (AEP) will be educating volunteers on where to safely plant trees while not disturbing power lines.
At 12 p.m., registration begins for Global Youth Service Day and a free t-shirt will be available to the first 25 volunteers to register. Volunteers will get to work hands-on and help clear debris, plow and till soil, plant seeds and more. Tools, refreshments, and snacks will be provided by WMGO and SSU.
“We’ll have gardening tools available, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own tools if they want,” Lewis said.
For more information about Youth Serve Day/WMGO visit watchmegrowohio.org
For more information about SSU’s Free Tree Giveaway contact Logan Minter via email: lminter@shawnee.edu
Special thanks goes to ServeOhio for helping make this financially possible, Portsmouth Municipal Housing Authority for donating the use of land and materials, and all the sponsors/organizations who helped make this happen.
In the event that it rains, check the WMGO Facebook page for updates and rescheduling.