Article written by Ainsley Hall and published in The Journal on October 17, 2025, link to article HERE.
Kindergartners at Hedgesville Elementary School got their hands dirty on Thursday, when the Cacapon Institute visited to plant new trees around the playground.
With volunteers from the institute and Hedgesville High School, students learned more about trees and the important part they play in the ecosystem.
A few years ago, under the previous Principal Melissa Hollen, Hedgesvillle High School worked with the Cacapon Institute to teach kids about trees and plant some around the property. So, when kindergarten teacher Rebecca Brock got an email from the Cacapon Institute about planting trees at the school, she knew it would be a great opportunity for her students.
With little shade around the school’s playground, Brock believed it would be the perfect place to plant some trees.
“They need to know that trees don’t just come up,” Brock said. “There’s a whole process when it comes to planting trees. I also want to teach them about how important trees are, how we need them for oxygen and explain a tree’s life cycle.”
Brock quickly applied to participate in the program, and soon she began working with the Cacapon Insitute to pick a day to start planting. Brock and her husband picked up the trees, which included several different types, including oak and maple. Together, they brought them to the school, where Scout Troop and Pack 37 dug holes for the trees. Just a few days later, nine kindergarten classes worked together to plant the trees with help from volunteers.
Jeff Blount, from the Cacapon Institute, was just one of the volunteers who came to help. He led several groups as they planted their tree, explaining how it’s important for the tree’s roots to be fluffy when its planted to promote healthy outward growth. Students took turns pushing dirt around the trees before volunteers hammered in stakes to support the trees as they grow.
It was also a great opportunity to get kids outside. Brock thinks many of the kids are forced to be inside too much when they should be playing and learning surrounded by nature. After planting the trees, Brock taught her students more about trees’ life cycles and how they impact the ecosystem. She hopes it inspires them to continue taking care of the earth as they get older.
“I hope they take away that they can do something to help the earth,” Brock said. “They can plant trees, flowers or bushes. Earth is the only place we have to live, so its important that we take care of it. I also want them to learn that working together as a group can make the earth a better place to live for everyone.”