Girl Scouts tree planting project extends to Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail

CHARLESTON — The Eastern Coles County Girl Scouts have planted more than 20 trees during the last four years on city property within Charleston.

"We are really proud of what the girls have been doing," said Charleston Tree Commission member Stan Adkins, noting that the Scouts also assist this city advisory board with maintaining the trees.

On Thursday afternoon, the Eastern Coles County group extended its ongoing planting efforts through the national Girl Scouts Tree Promise program to the western edge of the Charleston city limits.

As the sun began to set, the youths helped plant two Dogwoods and three Redbuds along the Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail in the unincorporated community of Loxa. This paved trail runs between Charleston and Mattoon on former railroad right of way, and Loxa is approximately at the midpoint.

The new shade trees are located along a split rail fence on the east side of the Loxa comfort station, which the city of Charleston built a few years ago. The station offers restrooms, a water fountain, cold drink vending machine, a bike tire repair device and picnic table.

Volunteer and troop leader Liza Strong-McCormick said she is excited about the opportunity for the girls to continue their community service work along the recreation trail, noting that they also have planted trees along the trail within Charleston.

The Scouts also have planted four trees at North Park and three at the Charleston Fire Department's A Street fire station near Eastern Illinois University's campus in recent years.

"I love trees a lot. I wanted to work on something our girls can take pride in," Strong-McCormick said of helping with the Girl Scouts Tree Promise nationwide initiative. The goal is to plant 5 million trees in five years.

Troop member Amelia Vandermeer, a seventh grader at Charleston Middle School, said she has enjoyed planting trees because it's fun to play in the dirt and hang out with her fellow Scouts.

Vandermeer said Loxa has been her favorite planting site so far because it's out in the country in a place where the trees are less likely to be disturbed. She said they also will provide helpful shade for bicyclists and pedestrians stopping to rest there.

"It's really good to know that and have the feeling that you made some sort of difference," Vandermeer said.

Girl Scout Finley Vincent, who is a second grader at Carl Sandburg Elementary School in Charleston, worked with her father, Dustin Vincent, to help plant a tree on Thursday in Loxa.

Dustin Vincent noted that he and his family also have taken part in a Boy Scouts tree planting project at the Warbler Ridge Conservation Area south of Charleston.

"We like about anything outdoors," Vincent said. "We love helping out and being outside."

Troop leader Strong-McCormick said the Tree Commission's Adkins, who is a retired Charleston High School biology and environmental science teacher, has been helpful with getting the Girl Scouts involved with planting projects.

Charleston Superintendent of Parks and Facilities Maintenance C.J. Applegate, who assisted with Thursday's project in Loxa, said the commission has been successful at finding grants and volunteers to facilitate the planting of trees.

For example, Applegate said the commission has secured funding from the Lumpkin Family Foundation for planting trees on Charleston school campuses and has worked with students on these efforts in recent years.

"It's amazing what that volunteer group has done," Applegate said, noting that additional trees will be planted next year at the Loxa comfort station.

PHOTOS: Girl Scouts in Central Illinois through the years