On April 26th, the Magothy River Association celebrated Arbor Day with students from St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Severna Park by planting 6 trees at Lake Waterford Park. MRA donated 3 Virginia Pines and 3 Virginia Sweet Spire trees to replace a number of Champion trees that were recently lost along the park’s “Champion Trail.” One tree was planted in remembrance and honor of long time MRA volunteer, Steve Troy. MRA hopes to expand this event by inviting more schools to participate and become champions of saving the earth, one tree at a time.

The first Arbor Day was held in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, where more than a million trees were planted. The idea “grew” from state to state and on April 15, 1907 President Roosevelt issued an Arbor Day proclamation to the school children of the United States, brining Arbor Day to the classroom. It was not until 1970 that Arbor Day was recognized nationally, thanks to President Nixon. Today Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April as a day to promote environmental awareness and conservation efforts.