Before the planting

• It is critical to the project success that the project have the full support of the principal and a committed group of parents and teachers.
• Planning for the placement of trees should include the principal, maintenance/operations, teachers, parents, and students.
• All alterations to school property must be approved by board operations. ReForest London can prepare a project plan to help facilitate this process.
• If the project is large and involves naturalizing the school grounds with gardens, we recommend recruiting a landscape designer to help plan and implement the project.
• Ontario OneCall (800-400-2255) must be contacted at least 2 weeks before the project date (and preferably before) to locate all electrical, gas, cable and sewer lines. “All clears” from the organizations involved must be received before we can dig.

Preparing for planting day

• In order for the children to learn about the trees and how they are planted, we recommend that all students be involved in the tree planting day. This also gives the students more of a sense of ownership over the trees and reduces the chances that they will vandalize them, either intentionally or unintentionally.
• ReForest London and VanDenNest Nurseries can come with 3-4 adults. We can then work with up to 20 students at once. This allows one class to come out at a time. Teachers need to remain with the class to help us keep the students organized and on task.
• It is very helpful to have at least one parent throughout the day as well. If there is mulch to be spread over a large area, at least one parent must be there to help (preferably more). If this is not possible, this labour cost can be added to the cost of the project.
• It is best if there is a schedule for all the classes. Students usually work for about 20-30 minutes before getting tired or bored. (Some students love it and want to work all day!) This schedule allows for a smooth transition between classes and ensures that everyone gets a chance to help.
• Children should wear coats and if possible gloves. They will get dirty.
• ReForest London has a one-page lesson ideas that teachers can use with their students to re-emphasize the care and maintenance ideas that we share with the students as we plant with them.

After the planting

• As part of your agreement with ReForest London, the school is responsible for watering, mulching and weeding the trees for at least 2 years. During the summer, most schools recruit families to volunteer one week to water the trees. (They need to be watered 1-2 times per week during the summer months.) The school needs to ensure that the volunteers have access to a hose and the ability to turn the hose on.
• If the project has a large area of mulch, this mulch will need to be replenished every year. At most schools, parents take on this task.
• Information about the tree guarantee is on the contractor’s invoice. It is notable that guarantees do not include damage/death of the tree due to vandalism or lack of watering.