Turtle Barn Organic Farm, in Edmonds, Oklahoma, named after our mother turtle, Amma, (if you mispronounce the word ‘Amma’, it sounds like the word for turtle in Malayalam), has extra seedling trees that sprout around the farm every year. In 2022, we were able to give 150, two-foot tall, hardy hibiscus tree saplings to a Unitarian Church Day Camp in Oklahoma City. The camp serves about 75 inner city youth. Elizabeth Muller, Amma devotee and Embracing The Trees team member, helps coordinate the camp and teaches youth how to plant trees.

This year, a team of 75 young people planted 75 saplings at the camp. There were enough saplings to also give one to each camper to take home to plant. A flyer (see below) went home with each sapling that included instructions about planting and care, plus the importance of planting trees.

In addition to planting the hibiscus tree saplings, the youth were also led through two wonderful, guided nature activities about trees, created by Joseph Cornell, an American nature educator. The activities are educational, fun, and help connect participants with nature.

To learn more about this, check out these YouTube links:

Build and Become a Tree Imagery Activity

Tree Seasons Imagery Activity

For more activities that focus on nature in a fun and meditative way, visit Joseph Cornell on YouTube or use his book Sharing Nature with Children.

PLANT A TREE TO SUPPORT
THE UNITED NATIONS TRILLION TREE CAMPAIGN!
ROSE OF SHARON HIBISCUS TREE