Harrisburg marks Arbor Day with tree planting and new Roots to Rivers school–city partnership

City and school officials joined students at Ben Franklin Elementary School to plant a tree in honor of Arbor Day and to highlight "Roots to Rivers," a new place‑based science partnership between the City of Harrisburg and the Harrisburg City School District.

Cody Legge, the city forester, opened the brief ceremony by saying the city would plant a tree at the school to mark Arbor Day and handed the program to his colleague, community outreach forester Shay Werver. "We're here to honor Arbor Day, and, we're gonna plant this tree here at Benjamin Franklin, Elementary School," Legge said.

Emily Copenitz, a new teacher at Ben Franklin, described the Roots to Rivers program as a way to connect students with local waterways and trees and to encourage hands‑on science. "Arbor Day is one of my favorite days of the year," Copenitz said, adding that students had been prepared to "ask questions about the world right outside these doors." She said the program helps students "learn what is around you, and you embrace it, and you become a part of it."

Jennifer Brodsky, supervisor of math and science for the district, framed the initiative as part of a broader district vision that treats science as active, place‑based learning. She traced the work back to smaller efforts such as painted bat boxes and said the district and city aim to put Harrisburg "at the center of science education." "Our job as educators is to create and enable those conditions and to help students see that what they're learning in science goes beyond the classroom walls," Brodsky said.

A representative from Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams' office, Dina Jandary, offered the mayor's greetings and reminded students that caring for trees is an ongoing responsibility. Speaking on the mayor's behalf, she said trees "give shade on a hot day" and "give homes to animals like the birds," and urged students to tend the new tree as it grows.

Dr. Henry, the district superintendent, told students the planting is an investment in their future and emphasized the long‑term nature of stewardship. "A tree doesn't grow by itself," he said, asking students to remember the event years from now.

Danielle Hill, president of the Harrisburg City Council, and Councilmember Robert Lawson each offered brief remarks thanking students and staff for hosting the planting. Rosalyn Copeland, president of the Harrisburg City School District board, urged the community to treat the planting as a beginning and not a one‑time act.

The event closed with the school's principal, Dr. Lindsey, thanking partners and introducing a short reflection invoking The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to emphasize resilience and patience as lessons from trees. Dr. Lindsey said the planting "will forever show the collaboration and commitment to educating our students in the Harrisburg City School District."

No formal votes or policy actions were recorded at the event; officials described it as a ceremonial planting and an opportunity to launch continued collaboration between the city and district.