By Juliette Daly
Three Irvington High School students came together to start the “Little Leaf” project. These students joined forces with Dows Lane students to plant eight native red oak saplings in the Dows Lane Elementary School garden.
This project was created by the Environmental Club coordinator, Alex Lengers, and Dows Lane Garden Club coordinator, Alissa Campbell. They were able to create a dedicated space in the Dows Lane Elementary School garden for the native red oak saplings. The idea of this project came from Alexandra Ziff Glueck, a junior at Irvington High school. Dows Lane principal Dr. Andrea Kantor said “We are all thrilled for this collaboration.” This project creates a great sense of community between students of all ages. “The goal of this program is to not only replenish our forests but to also inspire a young generation of people who care about the environment and will aid it as they continue to grow,” Alex Lengers said.
Once the native red oak saplings become more mature, they will be moved to the O’Hara Nature Center to become fully grown. The O’Hara Nature Center is a scenic preserve with hiking trails as well as native plants and wildlife, located here in Irvington. The native red oak tree comes from eastern and central North America, and can grow up to 75 feet. What makes this tree unique is its adaptability and fast growth. The red oak tree can adapt to urban conditions, such as pollution and compacted soil, and it grows more than two feet per year.
This project created new friendships and bonds for students of all ages through their shared passion for the environment. This hands-on experience reflects the mission of Irvington High School’s Environmental Club, which is to raise awareness about issues affecting the natural world and to foster a sense of environmental responsibility.
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