MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — Students at J.M. Hill Elementary School in East Stroudsburg are getting a combined lesson with Earth Day and Arbor Day.
"It's basically a holiday where someone decided to plant a bunch of trees and then they planted like a million trees in one state in like a year," said 5th grade student Jack Narvy.
The front of the school now has two new additions of Willow Oak trees. Members of the East Stroudsburg Shade Tree Commission spent part of the morning teaching students from kindergarten through fifth grade about this type of tree.
"This generation, if they have a greater understanding and appreciation of the trees, then they will probably be more apt to plant a tree or at least take care of a tree," said East Stroudsburg Shade Tree Commission Member Laura Mason-Caiazzo.
Not only did the students get to learn about willow oak trees, but they got to help plant them, too.
One shovel at a time, each student took their turn filling the hole with dirt.
"Trees are important because they can give shade and grow flowers," said kindergartener Acacia Jones.
"I really like it because we got a minute to be outside and plant some trees," said Narvy.
Teachers say a lot of what they learn in the classroom centers around how to keep our earth healthy.
"Oh, these kids are so awesome. This is the best time to teach them because they get really, really excited and are influenced by how much we care about the earth," said ESL specialist Angel Lowe.
This was the second year for the Arbor Day celebration at J.M. Hill Elementary.