DTE Foundation - WKTV Journal

On. Sept. 26, seven trees were planted in the Godfrey-Lee neighborhood in parkways in front of residents’s homes. (Courtesy Tree Amigos)

By Estelle Slootmaker
City of Wyoming Tree Commission

The City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” planted 20 trees with funds from a DTE Foundation grant administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The original spring planting dates were moved to fall due to COVID-19.

On Sept. 26, seven trees were planted in the Godfrey-Lee neighborhood in parkways in front of residents’ homes. On Oct. 10, another seven trees will be planted in the neighborhood and eight trees in Oriole Park, where many trees have had to be removed. Each tree represents a $500 investment. Excavation and permitting are being provided by the City of Wyoming. In addition to the Tree Amigos volunteers, five youth volunteers from Lee High School National Honor Society are helping with the plantings this fall.

Community members and students from Wyoming Lee High School have worked to add more trees to the Godfrey Lee neighborhood. (Courtesy photo by Tree Amigos)

The Tree Amigos have focused on the Godfrey Lee neighborhood the past two years because it has lost many trees to storms and development. On Arbor Day 2019, Wyoming Lee High School Ecology Club joined the Tree Amigos for the City’s 2019 Arbor Day Ceremony. To open the event, members of the Club planted two tulip trees on school property bordering Lee Street. The trees were provided by The Tree Amigos.

“We absolutely have some areas that need this resource,” said Vlad Borza, a Lee High School teacher who leads the Ecology Club. “I actually worked on a project just last year with high school ecology students to identify this very need.

“Due to disease and windfall, several of the trees along the (school’s) front parking area and along the side had to be removed in recent years. We would love to re-populate this area with some preferably native trees that can begin to complete the void left behind by these removals.”

The Friends of Grand Rapids Parks has also noted the need for increasing tree canopy in this area where Wyoming and Grand Rapids share a boundary. This City of Grand Rapids organization has been a helpful resource for The Tree Amigos. Its Urban Forest Project also offer resources and tree education classes, which are open to Wyoming residents.

“There is no arguing the significant environmental and economic benefits that trees bring to our communities,” said Lauren Davis, urban forest coordinator for the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and who serves as The Tree Amigos volunteer consulting certified arborist. “As we continue to lose mature trees from natural causes and development, the need to plant new trees has never been greater.”

The Tree Amigos also added six fruit trees to the City of Wyoming Tree Commission’s Beverly Bryant Community Orchard at West Elementary this fall.

For more information about The Tree Amigos, visit the organization’s Facebook page.

The Tree Amigos and area residents will be out again on Oct. 10 to plant more trees. (Courtesy Photo by Tree Amigos)

By Christie Bender
Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that it is partnering again with the DTE Foundation for the Young Women in Science program, offered as an after-school program to Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools students.

During spring of 2020, middle school students will have a special opportunity to work with local women STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professionals. During this after-school program, students will work with Hydrogen powered cars, solar and wind energy, electrochemistry, physics and engineering, and more. Young Women in Science is offered free to participants, and takes place during a six-week session at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, once again sponsored by the DTE Foundation.

“Thank you to the DTE Foundation for continuing to support the Museum’s efforts to share these opportunities with area students,” said Dale Robertson, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “In these after-school programs, students experience science in a hands-on way, led by local female professionals. We are extremely thankful to the DTE Foundation for the role they are playing within the community.”

The program reinforces grade-level science standards and laboratory skills with an emphasis on renewable energy. A portion of the program focuses on reflection and dialogue to improve students’ attitudes toward science and engineering by strengthening self-confidence and introducing career possibilities. The program is especially beneficial for young female students who may not see themselves widely represented in STEM fields.

“The Young Women in Science program engages girls in middle school with STEM subjects at a crucial time in their educational journey. At the DTE Foundation we want to make sure that we keep these girls interested in an important field that can change their futures,” said Lynette Dowler, executive director and president of the DTE Foundation. “We’re proud to support the next generation of engineers, mathematicians and scientists.”

Participating schools include Lee Middle School (Godfrey-Lee Public Schools) and Grand Rapids University Prep Academy, Westwood Middle School, Alger Middle School, and Riverside Middle School (Grand Rapids Public Schools).