A study in betterment, personal and planetary
Published 04.28.2022
On April 23, 16 Pennsylvania College of Technology physical therapist assistant students – joined by Victoria Hurwitz, program director – partnered with Trailing Pines Tree Farm to plant 170 tree seedlings for conservation. The farm is a partner of the Keystone Ten Million Tree Partnership/Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
The physical therapist assistant program has helped to plant seedlings for the past three years on the farm, owned by Paul Huffman.
“These students give their volunteer time for conservation, air and water environmental concerns,” Huffman said. “The students are exceptional young leaders of tomorrow that are very concerned about our world and our environment. The college provides a rewarding education to the students and also shows devotion and concern for our world and our environment.”
Huffman is a Penn College alumnus, graduating in 1987 from what was then Williamsport Area Community College.
Trailing Pines Tree Farm is in Lewis Township, upper Northumberland County, in the Warrior Run watershed. The conservation-based farm is dedicated to wildlife management and improving water and air quality through reforestation and other agricultural practices.
According to the Keystone Ten Million Trees Partnership, trees clean our water, reduce erosion, increase property values, bolster our economy and stabilize our environment.
Spring and fall plantings are done every year to reach the goal of 10 million trees. As of November 2021, nearly 4 million trees have been planted since 2018. The number will be updated on the partnership’s website in May, following the spring planting season.
– Photos by Victoria Hurwitz
Bruno (center) and Gatchell, (right) prepare to put down roots with the help of Ziva.
While Ari preps a hole, Kinzinger stands ready with a bundle of seedlings.
Dietrich, Jones and Ziva show a pair of the 170 seedlings the group planted on Saturday.
Hoyer and Wolf show good biomechanics.
Martinez, Finan and Steinbacher get ready to dig in, their part of an effort to meet the 10 Million Trees goal.