Lions Club delivers over 200 saplings to Wantagh fourth graders

In observance of Arbor Day, which encourages Americans to plant a tree on April 26, the Wantagh Lions Club led the way with some fourth graders last week.

To encourage young generations to participate in the national celebration, the Lions Club delivered more than 200 saplings to fourth graders in the Wantagh School District on April 16. For Larry Lamendola, Lions Club first vice president, the occasion represents a great way to get kids involved with the environment.  

“It’s a great service to the community,” Lamendola said.

The Wantagh Lions have embarked on this Arbor Day tradition for the past six years, after member Ben DiMarco came up with the idea to deliver saplings to kids and teach them how to plant trees. DiMarco is no stranger to the environment — he’s a member of the Arbor Day Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees in neighborhoods, cities and forests around the world.

The Lions handed out Colorado blue spruce and eastern white pine saplings to students in Mandalay, Forest Lake and Wantagh elementary schools. Each student received one sapling, and instructions on how to plant it. According to Lions Club member Karen Quinn, the kids get excited to plant their first trees.

“They get a kick out of it,” Quinn said. “My kids take them home, and they love this.”

Lamendola said the event has been a good way for the club to connect with schools in the community, which also creates a bonding experience with students and their families.

“They get excited about getting the tree and going home with mom and dad,” Lamendola said. “It’s a family thing.”

Students are given step-by-step instructions from a pamphlet, guiding them on how to properly care for the plant. These steps include soaking the roots, digging a hole, and placing the sapling in the hole with enough soil and mulch to give it proper nutrition. Making sure the sapling has enough water, according to Lamendola, is crucial to growth.

“We always tell them, ‘keep the roots moist,’” Lamendola said.

The Wantagh Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization with around 1.4 million members and more than 40,000 clubs worldwide. The organization takes its motto, “We serve,” seriously, and the Wantagh Lions encourage people to make a difference in their community, which includes literally planting roots.  

Forest Lake principal Thomas Burke said the club’s Arbor Day event is a great way to get students engaged with the environment. He added that it allows students to connect with one another and their parents as they learn about the Earth they live on.

“It’s a great community experience,” Burke said.

Brielle, a fourth grader at Forest Lake, showed her excitement with a smile when she received a sapling from the Lions.

“They’re cool,” Brielle said. “Now I’ll plant this because I don’t have many plants. It’s a cool plant.”

Erin Joyce, a fourth-grade teacher at Mandalay, said her students were thrilled and grateful to receive saplings from the Lions. Joyce added that students in her class learn about Arbor Day’s origins and the importance of caring for the environment.  

“We discuss the history of Arbor Day and the American history behind the creation of the holiday,” Joyce said. “Additionally, we learn throughout our science and writer's workshop units, the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling.”

Lamendola said the Lions have received “thank you” cards from kids over the six years they’ve delivered saplings. Since students bring the saplings home to plant, Lamendola said he hasn’t seen the results of the club’s Arbor Day tradition, but one day he would like to see the progress.

“I’d love to see if some of them are existing and planted,” Lamendola said.

Rachel Ianuzzi, assistant principal at Wantagh Elementary School, said she is grateful for the Lions’ commitment to encouraging kids to get immersed with the environment.

"We are grateful to the Lions Club for providing our fourth graders with the saplings to help us celebrate Arbor Day,” Ianuzzi said. “Thank you to the Wantagh Lions Club for teaching us the importance of trees, and, together, we can make a difference in the world."