Power 99 tree planting a blast from the past

Power 99’s 25th annual tree planting event is a blast from the past for a volunteer who recalls being in the same shoes as the Grade 5 students who planted 7,000 saplings on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, about 500 students from around the city were bused out to the ball diamonds at the Downtown Lions Park to help repopulate the surrounding forest. Many trees in the local forest have been killed off by diseases and parasitic plants.

“I remember coming out here and doing it myself,” said volunteer Megan Mewis, adding with a laugh, “and I won’t say how long ago.”

Looking around at the children digging their shovels into the ground, it didn’t feel like that much time has passed since she was just like them, she said, “I still think I’m this age.

“Some are really excited about getting them (the saplings) and racing to get them in as fast as they can. And the teamwork between them, working in pairs or groups of three, is really great to see as well.”

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Storm Madsen is one of the Grade 5 students who was eager to plant trees with her classmate Noelle Keays.

She explained why.

“Because it’s Mother Nature and there’s more to do outside than inside,” Madsen said.

“It’s probably better for your brain,” Keays added.

When asked why what they’re doing is important, Madsen said trees are “important because they give us oxygen,” and Keays said “they provide us with paper.”

The memories of her younger planting days are still fresh for Mewis.

“I’ve always remembered that somewhere there’s a forest that I had a part in planting,” Mewis said.

She was one of the Conexus staff who donated their time on Wednesday for the Power 99 FM Plants a Forest event. For the first time, Conexus has partnered with Power 99 as a co-sponsor this year.

The kids were also entertained with tours of an ambulance, fire truck, and Prince Albert police’s brand new undercover Charger.

An officer told the children it hasn’t been used in any arrests.

Kids enjoying a game of pretend with the new undercover @PAPOLICEca car @princealbertnow pic.twitter.com/KO5R5aodCd

— Chelsea Laskowski (@ChelseaLaskowsk) May 27, 2015

Hundreds of kids planting trees outside Prince Albert today with the help of Power 99. @princealbertnow pic.twitter.com/NvoSMx0Lie

— Chelsea Laskowski (@ChelseaLaskowsk) May 27, 2015

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claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk