ALICIA LUGO

Community Service- Urban Airshed Reforestation Program (UARP) / NJ Tree Foundation

                                                     Saturday, April 7th 9am-12pm
                                           Cooper’s Poynt Waterfront Park, Camden
                                                                      11 trees

             For my part in the community service project, I partook in an event that would have attributes of elements that were taught in our lesson plans about sustainability. I searched for events that would remotely be in the realm of subjects that pertained to the environment, I finally found an event that was to my liking and it was a tree planting event that was near my home.

              The tree planting was set in the Cooper Poynt Waterfront Park in Camden, N.J. This would be the first planting for Camden for the season. Since the weather has been colder than expected, the event was delayed to be for this date. The objective of this event was to plant 10 trees of different species into this particular park, although they added another one to plant for good luck. When first arriving at the park they mentioned that you had to go to a stand up a black tent to sign in, this would confirm that you were actually at the event and to prove you were there. Everyone who attended the event was given snacks since it started bright and early. After eating the snacks that were given to you for breakfast, you would be able to pick your tool to use to dig your hole for the tree you get to plant.

            I did not know anyone at the event so I stood to myself for most of it and tried my best to involve myself in the activities. At first, when I walked over to the planting area, I wanted to observe the scenario. In the beginning, I saw a family already digging away.( They made their hole HUGE!) I was really impressed that I thought it was pretty cool seeing people of all ages, different backgrounds involved and wanting to help bring more life into the park. All the people attending the event had a common goal of wanting to help out each other for the greater good of our planet.

 

               Once I saw more and more people arriving at the event, I finally took the courage and grabbed my shovel to start digging away as well. I was not the only college student at this event! I was surprised to see that. Since Rutgers Camden campus was only a block away, students from the Biology Club and Biology majors were part of this event as well. A lot of the students for those majors were very knowledgeable about the subject matter. They were very friendly to me and initiated conversations with me so I did not feel left out.

                 I picked my own hole and shovel to plant my tree. They had other gardening tools to use as well. Like pick axes, smaller hand shovels, small furrowing tools, hoes, and other tools. We did, however, have to sign waivers before we began working as news outlets, press, media and such would be filming and interviewing us along the event.

           Once I picked my hole, a couple of other people who also were on their own, wanted to join me and help dig my hole. In the end, we had about four people helping with the hole I helped dig out. Midway, while digging, they stopped all of us to explain the purpose of the organization.

 

          The organizers for the event were very helpful and explained how much these trees would help not just the local park that they're planted at but for our environment as well. They explained that eventually, they plan to build a community building right next door. They plan to have future events to help the local community to be aware of our planet and much more. It is still in the planning stages and very early to say.

       Not only was the purpose of the event was to spread awareness about our environment, It was also to honor that this location was part of the Circuit Trails. The Circuit Trail is considered to be one of the largest walking trail organizations in the U.S.Since they are still building the park and adding more features it was now part of the trail officially from the organization.

 

       They taught everyone who helped plant, how to properly plant the trees so they would be able to grow properly for its lifespan. You had to take it out of its temporary soil, make sure the tree stood as straight as possible, put the original dirt/soil back, add the new soil, and finally mulch to cover it up.

 

   This being such a major event for the city of Camden, even CBS News came out to interview everyone who was there to help out. Other politicians and officials came out to this event as well. Though they did not stay long since it was very cold that day, it was expected to snow.

 

       The organization was given an award from the city of Camden for their hard work. They have existed for 20 years doing good things for the community, they are considered to be a nonprofit organization.

          They asked everyone after the tree planting and the lecture on the Circuit Trail, to fill out a survey on what they thought of it. After filling out the survey they gave away these cellphone case holders. As well as other snacks and drinks for the attendees to take.

        If you stood around after the survey questionnaire, they had a mini-lecture on pollution and water contamination. They made this interactive asking the audience what are things we do that we might not realize hurts our planet. Such things as cleaning your car in the driveway, farms using pesticides and such. They sprayed water at each little section and then it showed (the color of the water turning brown) that this is affecting our drinking water and our oceans. After that lecture, they told everyone that they were done and allowed to go home.

Sources

https://www.facebook.com/pg/NJTreeFoundation/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156921118578273

http://njtrees.org/nj-tree-foundation-partners-to-host-tree-planting-on-opening-day-for-trails/

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2018/04/08/camden-tree-planting-coopers-poynt/

http://vcbc.burlco.org/content/urban-airshed-reforestation-program-uarp