Scouts create an Earth Day extravaganza at Legacy Point Park
These young Scouts were among the many who came together at Legacy Point Park near Millersburg to plant more than 100 trees in the two parking areas and in a reforesting area to celebrate Earth Day.
Earth Day is a nationally recognized celebration that focuses on taking care of nature and the Earth, and on a local level, April 22 provided an ideal evening for a group of people to gather together and create something wonderful in honor of Earth Day.
On that nearly perfect evening of weather, led by Scouters of Holmes County, more than 50 Scouts and 25 adults from several Scouting groups joined forces at Legacy Point Park near Millersburg to make quick work of a tree planting project and had a great time doing so.
Brodie DeHass of SHC said the organization has promoted the planting of trees in the Scouting program for many years, noting the importance of that process in helping the environment thrive.
“We always say to the kids that the best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago, and the next best time is today,” DeHass said. “We are working hard to restore this area back to what nature intended it to be, and these kids will get to see our progress and our effort as they see these trees grow into adult trees.”
The Scouts and volunteers worked on three different areas around Legacy Point Park, planting trees that surround both the parking areas and planting more trees to the east side of the main parking area to serve as a reforestation process.
DeHass said the Scouting programs will benefit from this effort in many ways, noting Holmes County doesn’t offer a lot of public access areas for the Scouts to gather, so Legacy Point Park will serve as a perfect place to do so.
Kevin Mullet of SHC said these types of events have helped the Scouts better understand the role of the park district and the importance of Earth Day and everything it represents.
“We’re out here in nature planting trees and having a blast,” Mullet said. “I know adults now who can remember planting trees as Scouts who have been able to watch them grow or got to take a tree home and plant one and watch it grow. It’s a meaningful experience for the Scouts, and it will make a major impact on the beauty of Legacy Point Park now and in the future as it becomes a beautiful addition to our county.”
The Scouts helped plant well over 100 trees of several types and involved both members of Holmes Soil & Water Conservation District, which supplied the trees, and Holmes County Park District, which is taking the leading role in developing the new park.
Mullet said this event teaches the Scouts some wonderful traits, like working toward completing a goal, teamwork, and the value and responsibility of taking care of the Earth.
With most of the trees in the ground, volunteers cooked plenty of hot dogs and prepared some other food, and everyone gathered to eat.
It was an Earth Day evening that was prosperous for all the right reasons.
“Look around. This is pretty amazing,” said Jen Halverson, Holmes County Park District executive director. “We have this amazing group of people of all ages from all over Holmes County who have come together to help us plant trees.”
Halverson said area Scouting groups have been partnering with the park district for many years and have been instrumental in developing the grounds throughout Legacy Point Park by cleaning, clearing brush and creating trails and now planting trees.
“I’m so excited when they continue to tell us they want to come back any time to help any way they can,” Halverson said. “Their involvement has been critical to our success with the park, and we want to express our gratitude to each one of them.”