Community and students plant 217 trees across Sheboygan Area School District campuses
Summary
A volunteer-driven reforestation program with Lakeshore National Resource Partnership and the Sheboygan Rotary has planted 217 trees on six district campuses using a $25,000 DNR urban forestry grant and matching Rotary funds; the project pairs student learning with long-term canopy restoration.
The Sheboygan Area School District on Tuesday heard a presentation on a community-led reforestation project that has planted 217 trees across six district campuses.
Patricia, representing partners from the Lakeshore National Resource Partnership and the Sheboygan Rotary, told the board the initiative began about a year and a half ago and sought to restore canopy lost to pests and storm damage. She introduced David Miller, a botany instructor at North High School, who detailed the program’s operations.
"We have successfully planted, to date, 6 SASD campuses ... We've currently planted, 217 trees in total," Miller said, describing a process that vets species with the Wisconsin DNR, maps sites with district grounds staff and trains volunteers and students in planting and first-year care.
The presenters said the project is funded through a $25,000 DNR Urban Forestry grant and a committed match from the Sheboygan Rotary Roots Community Investment Fund, which together cover tree costs, stump removal and staking; organizers also track volunteer hours and estimate those hours would monetize to roughly $25,000 in labor value. Miller reported about seven trees required replacement this fall and estimated a roughly 94–95% survival rate so far.
Board members and alumni praised the effort as hands-on student learning. Miller said the group aims to align the work with existing curricula, citing UW–Stevens Point resources, and plans to reapply for state funding and pursue private donations to continue plantings.
On species selection, Miller recommended swamp white oak and river birch for wet sites such as riparian areas and said the group generally avoids willows on school campuses because branches can be brittle and present maintenance and safety issues.
The presentation concluded with board appreciation and an invitation for additional community volunteers; presenters said next steps include submitting another grant application and finalizing plans for additional campus work.
