Symbols of Hope: Parker Students Plant a Forest of "Recycled Trees"
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The trees are colorful and beautiful, with trailing streamers and rainbow leaves. They are tall, thin symbols of hope, reminding those who see them that it is possible to live in harmony with our earth.

Parker Lower School students assembled the trees as part of Earth Day celebrations, affixing leaves of recycled paper to branches made from recycled bamboo and toilet-paper rolls. Recycled newspaper papier-mache formed the bark, while recycled cardboard and plastic streamers added a festive touch. All the material used was collected from around the school last week.

"Each of us uses seven trees per year," project coordinator and artist Heidi Buscher-Simmersbach told students, giving them an idea of the impact they have on the environment. She also shared that Waimea used to be covered in sandalwood forests that were cut down about 200 years ago.

"Will these trees grow?" Ms. Buscher-Simmersbach asked, standing by the recycled trees.

"No," she said, answering her own question. "But what will? … Learning and hope. This day is about hope."

Students from kindergarten through fifth grade added to the trees, which were "planted" in front of Parker Lower School. The seeds of change also were planted in the school’s young students. In responding to the question, "Why is it important to care for our Earth?" kindergartner Cailin Pullan said, "Because the earth malamas us!"

Activities to care for the earth are a regular part of life at Parker Lower School, where rags are used instead of paper towels, a worm-bin composting system is in place (Oli the pig eats the food that can't be composted) and an organic garden grows, providing snacks for the after-school program.

The "recycled forest" will be disassembled and put in appropriate recycling bins at the transfer station after about a week.

West Hawaii Today