Celebrating Arbor Day

Students at Krueger Middle School marked Arbor Day during a special ceremony on Friday, May 10, reading a proclamation and planting 12 mature trees on school property, mostly on Springland Avenue near the entrance to its new Forest Management Path.

The trees (mature red oaks, honey locusts, and sycamores) were provided by the City of Michigan City through an Indiana Department of Natural Resources Community and Urban Forestry Tree Canopy Improvement Grant. According to City Forester Frank Seilheimer, trees were also planted in commemoration of Arbor Day at the Municipal Golf Course and at Southgate.

Students in the Environmental Technology Class at Krueger, along with teacher Brian Schroll, planted the mature trees and will monitor their growth. Students in the class also took the lead on creating the school’s new Forest Management Trail, which will open on Friday, May 17.

Beginning May 20, students at Krueger will conduct elementary school “field day” tours of the new Forest Management Path and the Bird Habitat Trail, both of which feature learning stations on wildlife, trees, water, and soil. On Saturday, June 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., members of the public are invited to tour Krueger’s trail system during a “Water Festival” that will be held at the school to kick off Coastal Awareness Month. This family-friendly celebration will also feature activities and games for children, food, and exhibits by area organizations including the DNR, the Northwest Paddling Association, and many others.

Krueger Middle School opened as an Environmental Studies Center this past fall, offering students in grades 6-8 coursework tailored to environmental science. For more information about the school’s programs, call (219) 873-2061.