BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Burlington’s youngest residents are planting seeds of change in the fight against global warming.
In the push to curb emissions, Burlington officials are turning to elementary students for solutions.
Up on a hill behind Burlington’s Champlain Elementary School, a gang of fifth graders buries saplings in soil.
“It feels really good because earth really does matter to me,” said fifth-grader Tessa Blake.
They’re planting a variety of trees including maples, dogwoods, oaks, and willows to create a healthier city and increase biodiversity in their backyard.
“I think it’s really fun and I know I’m doing something right for the world for climate change,” said Blake.
The project started in 2021 when city conservationists and Champlain Elementary were looking for a way to get kids outside post-COVID and improve their environment.
Every other week, Sam Troast with Burlington Parks & Recreation rallies students of all ages to plant and tend to their trees.
“This is a chance to give them that hands-on opportunity, get them involved, have them have some autonomy over the work they do while negating localized effects of climate change,” said Troast.
Students watch through cameras as wildlife enjoys the growing oasis.
“Two years ago this was all like flat grass and it wasn’t nearly as cool or beautiful. We’d only see a raccoon once in a blue moon,” said fifth-grader Leland Dutcher.
Fifth-grade teacher Aziza Malik, who spearheaded the effort at Champlain, says the nursery has given students the confidence to combat climate change.
“Climate change is on their mind, 100%. This project is so special because it actually gives them a way to be able to do something about it,” said Malik.
Program managers hope to eventually seed nurseries at schools across the city, and similar projects are already blooming at C.P. Smith Elementary and Sustainability Academy.
Champlain fifth-graders say they’re grateful to have grown alongside their trees.
“It feels really good. I mean, we planted them in second grade and it’s really cool to see how far they’ve come,” said fifth-grader Grant Tedder.
“I wanna see how big they get. I might come back here until my 80s or 50s,” said fifth-grader Salma Mohamed.
Others struggle to imagine their little saplings towering overhead.
“Hopefully, I’ll never see that day. It’s like my child,” said Dutcher.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is the nursery’s next visitor, and she’s getting a student-led tour.