Clearview Elementary staff, students, parents and volunteers spent last Friday afternoon celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Clearview Forest.

 

Created in 1977, the Clearview Elementary School Forest consists of 34 acres on the south side of the school and eight acres on the north side. Last fall the school announced it was working with the DNR on a 10-year plan to restore the forest.

 

Planned to coincide with Arbor Day, the celebration featured popcorn, walks in the forest and planting tree seedlings.

 

DNR employee Nick Snavely was on hand to lead volunteers on planting tree seedlings. He demonstrated how to use a planting bar, explaining to the kids they wanted to dig a big hole, and then the correct way to place the roots in order to give the seedlings the best chance to grow.

 

Irena Leonenko and her children, two-year-old Leon and six-year-old Angelique, were some of the first volunteers to arrive. Angelique had been excited about the celebration ever since her teacher had told the class about it.

 

 “I’m here to plant a tree!” she said.

 

Volunteer Scott Goenner was part of the group that planted trees when Clearview Forest was dedicated 40 years ago. Goenner was a second grader at the time, and he wanted to see if the tree he had planted was still there.

 

“If there’s a pine tree two in by old Highway 24 I’m claiming it,” he said.

 

After each seedling was planted it was marked it make it easier to find when it was time to water them. In total, 1,370 Burr Oak, Red Oak and plum tree seedlings were planted in two days, with a Boy Scout troop coming in to help on Saturday.

 

The school’s goal with the forest restoration is to be able to use it for a variety of educational uses, including the creation of walking trails for students to use on nature outings. 

 

A group of 20 community volunteers and District 742 employees have created a committee to take on the project.