Eye on ECCS: District Education Center welcomes 32 new trees to the property through grant

 

NOTE: Occasionally throughout the school year, we will visit a school across Eastern Carver County Schools. Some weeks the plan may be to stop in multiple classrooms by grade, or by subject. Other weeks it may highlight a certain specialist group. The purpose is to give families and our community a glimpse into the every-day learning environment happening in our buildings. A chance to spotlight the incredible work our teachers and staff do on a daily basis for our students, and to showcase the incredible work our students produce as well. So, keep your Eye on ECCS!

Judy and Steve Harder have led the way at the Chanhassen Elementary Learning Garden for a few years now. Judy, a master gardener through the University of Minnesota Extension Program, developed curriculum for students incorporating the learning garden.

(Read the Eye on ECCS from 2023)

Now the Harders are extending their reach in the district, working with students at Integrated Arts Academy and the district's grounds crew to plant trees at the District Education Center. The trees were purchased through a $2,000 grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation.

Using bare root trees, which flourish if planted with care and expertise, and come at a lesser price than potted trees, the district was able to purchase 32 trees that will line the DEC driveway and add to the IAA garden area.

Judy has agreed to teach and work with both the students in the IAA and the grounds crew in how to plant and properly care for these trees. The large ash trees that currently line the DEC driveway are threatened by the emerald ash borer. 

The planted trees include sugar maples, lindens, chokeberry, hazelnut, and nannyberry.

"I welcomed Judy's donation and her teachings as we will need these techniques to combat the loss of our ash trees district wide," Jim Muenzenmeyer, Director of Buildings and Grounds for Eastern Carver County Schools, said.