Waverly Trees Forever Celebrates 30 Years!
posted in Leisure Services on July 1, 2021
Trees Forever began in 1991 as an effort by Waverly Utilities (formerly Waverly Light and Power) to promote trees for energy efficiency. Waverly Utilities provides annual financial support to Trees Forever. Waverly Trees Forever in cooperation with Waverly Leisure Services Department and Waverly-Shell Rock School Science Club, pursues grants and accepts donations and memorials. Over the past years, every city park and school in Waverly has benefited from Waverly Trees Forever. Projects include the Golf Course, Cemetery, Bremwood, Bartels Lutheran Home, Wartburg College, many streets and boulevards, as well as several other non-public areas.
The 30th Anniversary celebration began with the annual W-SR Science Club Tree Sale through March. In April Waverly was recognized as a Tree City USA awardee for the 30th year. Also, this spring the RISE Agency at Wartburg helped Waverly Trees Forever develop publicity materials and planning for future promotions. These materials were used to promote public volunteerism for Arbor Day and Earth Day.
On May 12th Trees Forever volunteers gathered with students from W-SR Middle School and planted nearly 115 trees throughout the community. This project was made possible by Waverly Trees Forever being awarded grants from Trees for Kids through the Iowa DNR and MidAmerican Energy’s Trees Please. Before planting the students learned the positive environmental impacts and overall importance of trees, as well as how to properly plant a tree.
Following the Trees for Kids planting, volunteers gathered at the W-SR High School to plant a tree to commemorate Waverly Trees Forever 30th year the Science Club Tree Sale and Trees Forever partnership.
On May 18th students joined Waverly Trees Forever volunteers in a project to mulch around trees in various locations throughout Waverly.
On June 2nd Waverly Trees Forever and other volunteers joined forces with Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community with a tree planting project to replace Ash trees that had been removed.
The celebration will continue in July at Waverly Heritage Days! Volunteers will be seen in the parade on Saturday, July 17th. In addition, the public will be invited to participate in a Facebook like, share and comment challenge. From 12:00 am on Saturday, July 10th through 12:00 am on Saturday, July 17th everyone that likes, shares, and comments on the pinned post on the Waverly Trees Forever Facebook page @waverlytreesforever will be entered into a drawing for a $300 gift certificate to Tiedt Nursery. The winner will be announced from on the main stage at Waverly Heritage Days later that day.
Also, look forward to a formal celebration this fall in Adam’s Parkway. More details on this to come later this summer.
Waverly Trees Forever would like to thank the community and the many volunteers who have helped keep this organization going for 30 years. We look forward to continuing the mission to plant, maintain, and educate people about trees in Waverly.