Scouts plant trees for Arbor Day

ESCANABA — It’s the last Friday of April, which means today is Arbor Day.

The customary observance of Arbor Day is to plant and care for trees. Members from the Escanaba Public Works Department with the help of area Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts honored Arbor Day by planting three trees in Ludington Park. For the last fifteen years Escanaba has received the “Tree City USA” certification.

“The Tree City USA designation means that Escanaba spends at least two dollars per person on our tree program, that we celebrate Arbor Day, and we have a tree ordinance,” said City Engineer Bill Farrell.

With all of these requirements, it shows that Escanaba goes the extra mile to take good care of the trees in their town. One major reason for the success Escanaba has had with this Arbor Day event is the large number of kids who come back year after year.

“It’s a good thing to get the kids involved with Arbor Day, the tree planting, and the whole conservation idea,” said Red Buck Sub-District Commissioner Mark Rose, “it’s stuff that we teach in our scouting program and we want to reinforce it.”

“Getting the kids out here to help us plant these trees I think is really important,” continued Farrell, “they learn a little something and get to call these their trees every time they’re down here and hopefully someday they bring their kids down here.”