Scouters of HC to host Earth Day tree planting celebration

Earth Day is an annual celebration raising awareness of the importance of long-term ecological sustainability. Earth Day is celebrated every year April 22, and it is normally accompanied by area organizations and concerned individuals promoting conservation practices and taking action to improve the environment around their communities.

Holmes County is no different than any other community in that effort, and on April 22 there will be an Earth Day tree planting session for any community member who wants to lend a hand.

This free event is sponsored by Scouters of Holmes County in union with the Holmes County Soil & Water Conservation District and Holmes County Park District. There will be several area Scouting groups participating in the function.

It will start at 6 p.m. at Holmes County Legacy Point Park, 6601 Township Road 326, off state Route 241, north of Millersburg. The park district will provide hot dogs and apples for everyone.

According to Brodie DeHass, SCH board member, this is one of those days that serves multiple purposes, especially for youth.

“This is something that is useful to our community and memorable for young people,” DeHass said. “I did this when I was 12 years old, and it’s stuck with me ever since. It’s a great way for families and especially young kids to learn about conservation and the importance of planting trees, and it also gets them started in learning about giving back to the community.”

DeHass said the tree planting on Earth Day makes it easy to remember for those who want to volunteer year after year. He also said the planting session will take place near the front entrance of the park, and volunteers will plant both trees and smaller plants that will serve as underbrush to the trees.

He estimates the effort will see the group plant close to 250 plants in all.

“Everything we are going to plant will be native to this area, so we won’t be placing any invasive species,” DeHass said.

Those joining the planting are advised to wear proper attire including boots, gloves and bug spray. In addition, they are asking everyone to bring their own mallet or small sledgehammer and a bottle of water.

DeHass said any youth not associated with one of the area Scouting troops must be accompanied by an adult.

Volunteering for this event counts as community service and/or conservation hours. Should inclement weather occur, work will be done the following week. Volunteers will plant live trees and stakes.

Planting trees is important because they clean the air, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping fight climate change. Trees also provide shade that cools neighborhoods and reduces energy costs while their roots prevent soil erosion and flooding. They create habitats for wildlife and make communities more beautiful and peaceful, which can boost mental well-being. Over time trees grow more valuable, offering long-lasting environmental, economic and health benefits for future generations.

Questions about the event may be answered by calling or emailing DeHass at 330-231-7501 or scoutershc@gmail.com, and DeHass suggests any families wishing to attend should either call or email him so they can get a better idea as to how many volunteers to expect. In doing so, all volunteers will be contacted should inclement weather cancel the event to a later date.