Robinson Elementary School Students Plant 50 Trees in Waterford Park
Lincoln’s Waterford Park is now 50 trees greener thanks to students at nearby Robinson Elementary School. Fourth and fifth grade classes planted the trees alongside community volunteers to commemorate Arbor Day 2025.
Working in two shifts, the planting teams watched a demonstration from Parks and Recreation staff before donning work gloves donated by the Arbor Day Foundation and dispersing throughout the park.
Students and volunteers worked to loosen each tree’s root ball, set it at the proper depth and cover the roots with soil.
Planting volunteers included Ameritas employees, students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s School of Natural Resources, the Arbor Day Foundation, and Northeast High School – LPS’s first school to earn Tree Campus K-12 recognition!
With the final touches of mulch and a popsicle stick nametag in place, students learned more about future plans for the park and had an opportunity to ask questions about the trees they had just planted. One of the highlights for many Robinson students was seeing a rendering of the playground equipment that will eventually be installed, encircled by the many trees they put in the ground.
Miss Nebraska 2024 Raechel Warren joined Ameritas volunteers to distribute free trees to Robinson families throughout the afternoon. 110 trees headed to homes around the school on top of the 50 that students planted!
Ahead of the April 25th celebration, students prepared with tree-themed activities in the classroom. These lessons tied into existing curriculum standards in both science and social studies.
Fourth grade students learned about the holiday’s Nebraska origins and the benefits trees provide from Arbor Day Foundation representatives.
Fifth graders worked alongside Kaylyn Comstock of Lincoln Parks and Recreation and UNL Regional and Community Forestry Lecturer Ann Powers in their Park Masters board game, strategically placing trees in different hypothetical park layouts.
LPS couldn’t be more grateful for the many community partners who made Arbor Day 2025 so memorable! The Robinson community will benefit from this project for many years to come, as will the students who had the chance to take part in a hands-on experience rooted in teamwork and caring for the world around us.
Updated April 30, 2025
