Published: April 11, 2008 11:20 pm         

Preschoolers celebrate Earth and Arbor Day

“I promise to be a litter getter and not a litter bug,” the children at Beckley’s St. Stephen’s Episcopal Day School shouted Friday.

In honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, a 7-foot-tall service berry tree was planted on the grounds of the Virginia Street school. The tree came from West Virginia State University, and Ed Mason of Aspen Corp. planted the tree.

During the event, children were taught about the benefits of trees.

Langhorne Abrams, director and teacher at the preschool, says teaching children about the environment, recycling and litter should start very early.

“We stress Earth Day and Arbor Day, and it needs to start at this age,” Abrams said. “It becomes a habit if they celebrate the Earth and taking care of the Earth by recycling, picking up litter and planting trees at an early age.”

She said planting a tree is a great experience for the children.

“It’s a great thing for the kids to see.”

The school participates in a recycling program sponsored by the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority. During the first semester, the children recycled 6,633 pounds of paper.

“These children were part of our successful recycling program,” said Sherrie Hunter, director of education and marketing for the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority and co-chair of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce’s-Make It Shine Committee. “Their recycling efforts saved 56 trees.”

Hunter says for every ton of paper recycled approximately 17 trees are saved.

The school is planning an “Earth Day” or “Go Green” program.

“We haven’t decided on the name yet,” Abrams said.

At the end of the event, each student received his or her own silky dogwood tree seedling, mini-shovel and Earth Day 2008 T-shirt thanks to Allen Waldron, a special projects forester for the West Virginia Division of Forestry.

Three-year-old Clara Lively said she looks forward to planting the tree at her home.

“I like trees,” she said. “Tree’s are good.”

The event was co-sponsored by the Division of Forestry, West Virginia State University, Aspen Corp., the Make It Shine Committee and the Solid Waste Authority.

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