Girl Scouts help plant a tree to celebrate Arbor Day at JBER

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON — Local Girl Scout troops helped military members plant a tree in front of the Soldier Centered Medical Home at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to celebrate Arbor Day.

JBER based Girl Scout Troops 20051 and 21020 joined military members such as JBER Natural Resource Manager Cayley Elsik and U.S. Army Col. James Watts to plant a white spruce tree and learn about the importance of Arbor Day Friday, May 31.

While talking to the Girl Scouts and illustrating the importance of Arbor Day and the long term pay off of planting trees, Watts used family road trips as an analogy. He said it can take a long time to get to the destination and there may even be times where someone asks “are we there yet?” but the journey makes it worthwhile.

“It's all about getting excited and getting something started," Watts said. “You grew together. You became a part of it… We're making a commitment. We want to make it all the way to the end.”

Watts said this is a great legacy project that Girl Scouts can look back on with pride. He said it would be great to see even more Girl Scouts troops come back and plant even more trees. He said they will be able to take their kids back to where they planted the tree and tell them how they helped it grow.

“I thought today was fantastic,” Watts said.

Events like this give our kids the opportunity to experience the good feelings associated with providing a service to the community… You can really envision multiple generations of scouts laying down their roots.”

Elsik said that she had a great time planting the tree with the Girl Scouts and witnessing the excitement from everyone in attendance.

“It's really encouraging,” Elsik said. “I think it's awesome that it's something we are able to dedicate the effort to every year. It shows our leadership is supportive of this tradition.”

8-year-old Girl Scout Ava Menchhofer said that she enjoyed helping plant the tree.

“I've never planted a tree before so it was fun," Menchhofer said.

Eight-year-old Girl Scout Jocelyn Lindsey said that she thinks it's exciting to know that the little spruce tree will become bigger over time.

“I think it's gonna be lovely to see a tree grow that I planted,” Lindsey said.

This was one of two Arbor Day themed activities hosted by Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson this year. On Monday, May 20, paper birch trees were planted at Aurora Elementary School.

According to a press release, 2024 marks the 29th year of JBER's designation as an official Tree City USA community recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation which requires an effective urban forestry plan, establishing a tree care ordinance, planting and caring for trees, and proclaiming and observing Arbor Day.

Arbor Day is a national holiday that focuses on public tree planting and celebrating one of Earth's most important natural resources. It's typically held during the last Friday of April but many states celebrate it during different dates based on optimal planting times.

For more information about Arbor Day, visit arborday.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com