‘We decided to do our part:’ Nanaimo elementary students planting thousands of trees

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

Mountain View Elementary students sharing the good news about their tree-planting goals in time for Earth Day. (Image Credit: Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

earth day goals

'We decided to do our part:' Nanaimo elementary students planting thousands of trees

1h ago

repeat attacks

'Bright green eyes shining:' cougar suspected in multiple Parksville livestock deaths

5h ago

cleanup

Shoreline cleanup advocates push for awareness & change

12h ago

One of the main messages of the book, To Speak for the Trees, by Diana Beresford-Kroeger, was climate change could be stopped if everyone on Earth planted six trees in the next six years.

Beresford-Kroeger herself submitted a video message to the kids during Wednesday’s assembly, thanking them for taking her message to heart, saying they might be the first school in Canada to lead this kind of tree-planting effort.

To raise the money, students held plant sales to encourage growing food at home, sold upcycled items, and held a Love Your Planet parade to help educate their fellow students about climate change.

“I think Earth Day is important because we have to like, really relish the earth that we’re on, because if we don’t, then it will just die and us along with it,” said Evelyn.

Each student coloured six trees per person, which were then displayed around the gym and school to help them better visualize exactly how many trees six per person actually is. (Image Credit: Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Fellow grade seven student Kael said 270 trees will be planted in Canada, representing the amount raised by Mountain View School teachers and staff, while the remaining trees will be distributed around the world in a variety of species.

“I think it kind of depends on the environment. Some of them will be in Canada and some of them will just be planted where they’re needed most, so it really depends on the environment.”

The students said they plan to continue with those Earth-friendly habits they’ve learned throughout this process, like always picking up their trash, turning off lights when not in a room, and limiting the length of their showers.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year to demonstrate support for environmental protection, with multiple environmental awareness and clean-up events taking place locally.

We’re on Bluesky! Stay up to date on news across central Vancouver Island through Bluesky, by following @NanaimoNewsNOW.bsky.social.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook