Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Avery Students Participate in the Adopt-a-Tree Program

Story by Jenna Crawley

It was all about trees for 31 local students participating in the Adopt-a-Tree program last Monday at Avery Middle School.

Students from the 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school program and the Support Our Students after-school program heard Area Rob Hawk talked about the importance of trees to Avery middle school Specialized Cooperative Extension Agent Rob Hawk discuss the economic, environmental and aesthetic value of trees. But with a pickup truck loaded with apple trees, mulberry trees, raspberry bushes and one special tree set aside for planting on the school grounds, Hawk gave more than the standard instructional experience.

From Hawk, students learned that by planting trees at their homes, they could help cut costs on heating and air conditioning. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the net cooling effect of a tree is equal to 10 room-size air conditioners running for 20 or more hours a day. Additionally, trees around a home can increase its value up to 15 percent or more.

Following Hawk’s presentation, students worked together to plant the mulberry tree on the middle school campus. Conveniently, the location is right outside after-school site coordinator Pat Hopper’s room. Students will be able to keep an eye on it as it matures.

To help students take into their lives what they learned in the after-school program, Hawk gave out free trees to those who wanted them. Students were able to choose between a mulberry tree, an apple tree, a blackberry bush or a combination of all three.

“Trees are one of the most significant aspects of the natural world and their benefits are endless to all of us,” said Hawk. “Adopt-a-Tree is a 4-H Youth Development program and is a program that encourages youth to adopt a tree much like they would with a pet, to water and care for the tree.”

Students participating in the program included Catalina Adams, Riley Bare, Shawna Braswell, Destiny Brewer, Cody Buchanan, John Calhoun, Nathan Calhoun, Holley Clark, Kayla Coffey, Tim Cunningham, Nikki Cunningham, Dorothea England, Brent Hammer, A.J. Harmon, Nicole Hodges, Tiffany Hodges, Tyler Long, Lakishia Lowery, Lucas Morton, Chelsea Moreno, Ember Musgrave, Cody Nichols, Logan Norman, Marissa Oaks, Ali Pedraza, Danny Pedraza, Christy Ray, Faisal Shah, Kelsi Smith, Shawn Watson and Katie Winkler.

If you are interested in enrolling your student in the 21st Century and SOS after-school programs, call the Avery County Cooperative Extension at 828-733-8270 and ask to speak to Lynn Townsend or send an email to Jenna Crawley at wamyclc@bellsouth.net.

21st Century After School programs are a community collaborative effort between the Avery County 4-H, W.A.M.Y. Community Action, Inc. and Avery County Cooperative Extension.

If you are interested in contacting Rob Hawk to find out more about the programs he offers, call him at 828-465-3575 or email him at robert_hawk@ncsu.edu.

cutline for adopt a tree day:

Area Specialized Cooperative Extension Agent Rob Hawk talked about the importance of trees to Avery middle school students last Monday. Following the presentation, the students planted a tree on campus and received free trees to take home. Photo courtesy of Jenna Crawley