May 2, 2013

Last week, students from David Douglas High School planted a tree grove to celebrate the 60 different nations represented in their East Portland school!

The tree planting allowed students to be part of a hands-on stewardship program that expandsPortland’s green infrastructure. The new trees will increase the city’s urban habitat, manage stormwater, shade classrooms and improve the schools grounds.

50 Students from science, leadership and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes participated in the planting. The David Douglas ESL students won this year’s Bill Naito Community Tree Award for their work with the non-profit Friends of Trees.

The tree grove will have both international trees and trees that are native to thePacific Northwest. The planting is part of a variety of events the school is hosting leading up to Portland’s World Environment Day on June 5.

Thank you to David Douglas staff and teachers, along with all the many partners who made the grove a reality.

photos courtesy of Anne Downing