The following is an update of our 4-H Million Tree Project…
*I. Project Progress*
- As of Valentine’s Day, *over 26,700 4-H youth have planted over 84,700
trees!* Thanks to everyone involved in this service-learning project.
*- All U.S. and Canada 4-H youth are invited to join the 4-H Million Trees
Project*, plant some trees, and together do something big in the climate
crisis.
*- Please forward this update and project invitation to all 4-H clubs in
your county and state.*
*II. Earth Day / Arbor Day / Global Youth Service Day 2010 Tree Planting
Events*
*Spring 2010 is critical to 4HMT*, and we hope to inspire all 4-H clubs and
units to organize tree planting events for the triple-celebration of Earth
Day/Arbor Day/Global Youth Service Day. We’re targeting the weekend of
April 24-25, 2010. (Clubs/units should choose the weekends that work best
for them.) Please consider planting at least 40 trees in your area to
commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. This will be huge to
help 4HMT reach toward its goal of planting 1 million trees by 2011 to help
slow global climate change.
Please make the tree planting event your April community service project.
The February youth executive board meeting would be the ideal time to select
and plan this event. Please let us know if we can help. Some details to
consider include:
- planting locations
- species of trees to plant
- size of trees
- plans to water and maintain trees for a couple of years until the roots
have become established
- ways to pay for the trees and planting materials
*III. Recent Success Stories*
*- Josh Akin* of Trenton, FL just planted 3,000 trees, all by himself, at
his Grandpa’s farm. Way to go Josh!
- *Matthew Evans* of Pflugerville, TX and his 4-H groups have recently
planted over 3,000 trees. Please check his fantastic *Discover
Green*website at
http://www.discovergreenyel.org/ which highlight his dedication to local,
national, and global environmental issues.
- The *Bartlett Wolfchase 4-H* from Memphis, TN is responsible for
planting 4,000 trees in their area, and plans to plant more. Keep up the
good work!
- The *Sho Me 4-H Wildlife Project* in Fair Grove, Missouri deserves
recognition and thanks for their excellent work.
*- 4HMT was at the Super Bowl!* In association with the NFL Tree
Growalition, Miami Dade County, FL 4-Hers recently planted trees the week
before the Super Bowl with professional football players from the Miami
Dolphins! Please see the attached photo. Thanks *RobRoy McGregor*, the
Scottish bike-riding, kilted, tree-planting ambassador (www.bike4treees.com
).
- 4HMT project founder and teen leader, Laura Webber, just returned from
Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she ran a leg in the *2010 Vancouver Winter
Olympics Torch Relay*. She was selected by the relay sponsor, Cola-Cola,
because of her efforts to help the environment through this project.
Great things can happen for kids that start projects in their passion areas,
and all it takes is an idea, some dedication, and follow-through. Then the
good things start to happen, such as Laura’s once-in-a-lifetime Olympic
experience. *Please encourage all 4-H youth to start community service
projects.* Check Laura’s torchbearer webpage at
http://www.livepositively.com/#/olympic_torch_relay/l_webber and check the
other torchbearers’ stories at
http://www.livepositively.com/#/olympic_torch_relay.
*IV. Publicity*
Public Relations is very important to help spread the word about the 4-H
Million Trees Project, and to let people know that 4-H youth are active
leaders in their communities. Therefore, please encourage 4-Hers to write
articles for their local newspapers about their tree planting events, and/or
invite the paper’s reporters to cover them. Adult leaders, please help the
kids get interviewed for these articles. TV news shows love stories about
kids planting trees, so please invite the TV stations to cover the events.
TV interviews are great experience, and provide a highlight in the record
book.
Please forward this message to all 4-H clubs and units in your county and
state to let them know they are invited to become participants in this
project. After all, every day is a good day to plant a tree.
Thanks for supporting the 4-H Million Trees Project!
Tom Webber
Project Leader
Laura Webber
Project Founder and Teen Leader
4-H Million Trees Project
www.4hmilliontrees.org
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This is such an inspiring read. I am in awe of all these young people doing so much to help the planet & actively working to help prevent climate change. I am sure you will meet your target of 1 million trees. I am going to have a look at all the blogs mentioned. Laura, what you have done in founding the 4-H million tree program is nothing short of amazing. Bravo!
Saving Our Trees Marrickville
I am the 4-H Agent in Edgecombe Co., Tarboro, N.C. wanting to acknowledge that I had 2 4-H clubs to plant trees…Lucky Clovers planted 2 at Bulluck Elementary School where the 4-H’ers attend and an older club-Keep’it Green planted 500 pine seedlings provided by the Forestry Service. Hope this helps and put us on map….