The Michiana Lions Club invites community residents to help plant seedling trees to establish an arboretum at Krueger Middle School (2001 Springland Avenue, Michigan City). The event will take place on Monday, May 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Eighth grade Krueger students and visiting third graders from Lake Hills Elementary will team up with Michiana Lions members in planting over 110 seedling trees on May 9. They will also take part in an educational program that revolves around tree growth and care. Among the seedlings that will be planted are American Plum, Hackberry, Elderberry, Black Chokeberry, Hazelnut, Gray Dogwood, Pawpaw, Persimmon, Shagbark Hickory, Black Cherry, and Washington Hawthorn.
In 2013, Krueger Middle School began operating as an Outdoor Environmental Science Center, offering students in grades 7 and 8 course work tailored to the environment. The school has been honored with several awards, including an Indiana Governors Award for environmental education. The arboretum will complement existing environmental learning resources on the school’s campus, which include a Wetlands Boardwalk, a Bird Habitat Trail, a Forest Management Trail, and a Savanna Prairie area. A Butterfly Habitat and Stormwater Reclamation project are under development.
The May 9 event is part of “Protecting Our Environment,” a Lions global campaign taking place during April and May. “Organizing this project gives us an opportunity to join other communities around the world in celebration of Earth Day and show the strength of our global network in addressing the many environmental issues facing our planet,” said Brian Pagels, President of the Michiana Lions Club.
“There is an urgent need for the global community to take action to protect the environment, given the many issues facing our planet such as climate change, deforestation, and loss of plant and wildlife,” said Jamie Miller, Centennial Service Challenge Chairperson. “Lions clubs from around the world have been committed to protecting the environment for several decades and we understand that every small effort makes a big difference.”
In addition to the Lions Club’s upcoming Protecting Our Environment service event, the club conducts a variety of projects including a nut and candy sale, food pantry, a backpack project, eye screenings, candy days, golf outing, a sock project for the homeless, “keys for cancer,” and eyeglass recycling.
Lions Clubs are groups of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information about the Michiana Lions Club, contact Brian Pagels at (219) 874-6316 or brianpagels@comcast.net or visit http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/michiana/