Several sixth grade students from Stephens Middle School picked up gloves and a shovel Friday, April 24, to plant over 30 native and maple trees behind their school in celebration of Arbor Day.
The tree planting event at Stephens-Yoshikai School Park was sponsored by the American Association of University Women Salem branch, who were joined by city Parks & Recreation staff.
Before the planting began, Scott Altenhoff, manager of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, presented an award naming Salem Oregon’s Tree City of the Year. This year also marks Salem’s 50th anniversary as a founding member of Tree City USA.
The students were divided in small groups led by forestry interns who walked them through the planting process, which included digging a hole, removing the trees from pots, loosening up the roots and placing them in the ground, before adding mulch and staking them down.
Scott Altenhoff, Oregon Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Program manager, presents Salem’s Tree City of the Year award. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Santiago Mejia holds a worm he found while helping plant a tree. He named it Mateo. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Shovels are pitched in the ground before the planting begins. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Volunteer Alan Holland dumps mulch at the base of a freshly planted tree. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)A pink flag marks the base of a freshly-planted Oregon white oak tree. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Joshua Evans, an urban forestry intern for the city, loosens up roots on a tree. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Brian Gonzalez stands with his shovel while planting a tree with his classmates. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Students begin to dig a hole for their tree. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Jonathan Aguilar, 11, places bugs into a cup using a stick. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)A newly planted tree sways in the wind behind Stephens Middle School. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Iker Santiago holds up a gem he found while planting a tree. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Joshua Evans, an urban forestry intern for the city, shows students the roots on a tree. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Snacks are laid out for students, staff and volunteers. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Councilor Micki Varney, an AAUW member, speaks with students before the planting. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Students try on gloves before planting. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Brian Gonzalez shows off a worm he found. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)A sign for Tree City USA celebrates its 50 year anniversary. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)Jonathan Aguilar, 11, shows off a beetle he found in a pile of mulch. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter)
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Hailey Cook joined Salem Reporter in 2025, following the completion of an internship through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Program for Excellence in Journalism. She works as a reporter and photojournalist, with a focus on business and entertainment, among other topics.
One comment
Hi Hailey,
The pictures are amazingly creative and fun! Thank you so much for highlighting Earth Day and Arbor Month, the wonderful partnership AAUW Salem Branch has with the City of Salem in our effort to support the Salem Climate Action Plan and engage young students in an educational, fun and beneficial activity.
AAUW Salem Branch Tree Planting Coordinator
Hi Hailey,
The pictures are amazingly creative and fun! Thank you so much for highlighting Earth Day and Arbor Month, the wonderful partnership AAUW Salem Branch has with the City of Salem in our effort to support the Salem Climate Action Plan and engage young students in an educational, fun and beneficial activity.
AAUW Salem Branch Tree Planting Coordinator