Local Scouts volunteer to support reforestation project

Demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship, a group of young volunteers from Troop 1 Scouts and Ship 198 Sea Scouts recently gave a morning of community service to help erect protective fencing for saplings. The Scouts worked alongside Chapel Green community members and Delaware Center for the Inland Bays representatives who will plant the saplings within the secured enclosures later this year.

The project is part of A Tree for Every Delawarean, an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing the state’s greenery and fostering sustainable ecosystems. The protective fences are designed to shield the young trees from wildlife and environmental damage, ensuring their successful growth in coming years.

Scoutmaster Michael Keller expressed pride in his troop’s hard work. “This project not only teaches the Scouts valuable skills but also gives them a sense of pride in contributing to the environment and their community. They’re learning the importance of giving back and how their efforts can create lasting change,” he said.

The location for this particular effort, Chapel Green community, is an area identified by the Delaware Center for the Inland Bays as a prime spot for reforestation. Meghan Noe Fellows, project coordinator, said, “Support from these Scouts has been invaluable. We see a lot of trees being lost all over the watershed. Whereas protecting existing trees might be the most valuable way to achieve our targets for air and water quality, the next best thing is planting trees.”