The Rockford Boy Scout Troop 264 and Cub Scout Troop 3264 are pictured with members of the Rockford Lions Club, under the direction of Rockford Lion Club First Vice District Governor elect Rock Wood. The troops planted Norway spruce trees at the Courtland Township Fire Station across from Myers Lake.
The Rockford Lions Club teamed up with several youth groups to plant trees at 12 Rockford Public Schools and the Courtland Township Fire Hall. More than 50 varieties native to Michigan were planted by members of the Rockford Lions Club, Rockford Leos Club, Cub Scout Pack 3264, Boy Scout Troop 264, and Rockford students over the past two months.
Rockford Lion and Lions District Vice-Governor Rock Wood organized the project after notification of the Lions International tree planting campaign to plant 1,000,000 trees worldwide. The Lions of West Michigan, District 11C-1, set a goal of planting 10,000 trees in West Michigan, which is one percent of the initial worldwide goal.
Rockford Lion and North Rockford Middle School Assistant Principal Al Reickard poses for a picture with students before planting trees on school grounds.
Wood stated, “This is a very worthy program designed to preserve the beauty of our planet and consistent with the ‘Pure Michigan’ theme promoted by our state of Michigan.”
Over the course of seven months, several fundraisers were held by 42 district clubs to provide funding for the project without government assistance or grants.
Besides trees being planted in the Rockford community, Lions clubs throughout West Michigan organized and planted trees at more than 50 locations. Locally, trees were planted along the White Pine Trail, Riverside Park, Grand Valley State University, Camp Gerber, and Ada Township parks just to name a few. Amazingly, worldwide over 8,000,000 trees were planted and closer to 12,000 trees were planted in West Michigan.
Rockford Freshmen Center students volunteer to plant trees under the direction of Rockford Lion and Principal Doug VanderJagt.
Wood said, “The tree-planting project was designed to involve youth groups to inspire them to become stewards in our community for their personal growth and for the betterment of our community.”
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