By Barb McKay

Kincardine students are afraid of getting their hands dirty if it means helping the environment.

On Friday, roughly 60 students from Kincardine Township Tiverton Public School (KTTPS) and Kincardine and District Secondary School (KDSS) spent the day at Kent and Amy McKay’s property on Concession 5 planting 1,200 cedar and spruce trees. The trees, donated by the Bruce Resource Stewardship Network and Pine River Watershed Initiative Network, are for a restoration project. Trees were planted along the hillside of the property to prevent erosion and on the flat land at the bottom of the steep hills along a creek.

“The trees help uptake nutrients in the water to improve water quality,” said Erin Gouthro, of the Penetangore Watershed Group, which oversaw the project.

Aside from improving water quality, Gouthro said the trees will also help to improve air quality. She said a benefit of planting cedar trees is that they can live for hundreds of years.

“It’s a five-minute investment for a multi-year return,” she said.

The students were enthusiastic about being involved with the project, though some were skeptical at first.

“I wanted to stay home, but I’m having fun,” said grade 8 student, Holly Krebs. “It’s way more fun than I thought it would be.”

“I thought it would be fun,” said fellow grade 8 student, Rachel Eby, who helped Krebs put seedlings into the ground. “I was really excited about it.”

Many of the students were happy to be doing something that would improve the watershed.

“I love (helping) the environment,” said Heather Tennyson, a grade 10 student. “It’s good to go green.”

“It feels good to be helping out,” said Danielle Kerr, grade 10.

The project was held in conjunction with Earth Day educational activities.