January/February 2016 |
17
The mighty oak, known for its longevity and stunning
canopy, received a bit more attention last "OAKtober,"
a month dedicated to rebuild the oak population from
the ground up.
Richmond Burton High School in Illinois secured a
ComEd Green Region grant to kick-off McHenry County
Conservation District's 100 Oaks for 100 Years initiative
to plant 100 oaks in one mid-October weekend.
Shawn Kingzette, district manager at Northwest Chicago
R/C office, was asked to join the tree planting project after
a McHenry County Conservation District employee heard
Kingzette discuss the decline of oak trees in the area
during his radio segment called "Tree Talk" on the Harvard
Community radio station.
"Many oak trees are located on private property," Kingzette
explains. "Homeowners are under the misconception that
their trees will live forever and don't recognize their oak
trees may die sooner than they should without proper
maintenance and treatments."
During the 100 Oaks event, Kingzette and foreman Baltazar
Gomez worked together to educate homeowners about
oak trees and the importance they play in their properties.
Gomez performed a tree climbing demonstration every hour.
Together, more than 400 community members, high school
students and partner volunteers planted 1,000 trees, 10
times the original goal, to aid in the reforestation of a 20-acre
oak woodland complex at Glacial Park, in Ringwood, Illinois.
"Everyone has the same goal to preserve oaks," Kingzette
says. "It's great to be around a supportive community that
loves trees just as much as we do."
CELEBRATING OAKTOBER
Baltazar Gomez demonstrates proper tree climbing techniques to kids and adults at the fun-filled oak tree planting event.
Idea submitted by: Shawn Kingzette,
district manager, Northwest Chicago R/C
Shawn Kingzette smiles at the camera after many great conver-
sations with homeowners about oak tree care, while Baltazar
Gomez walks up to join him after a tree climbing demonstration.
Baltazar Gomez demonstrates safe
climbing techniques at the 100 Oaks
for 100 Years kickoff event.
