Calabasas Students Plant Trees For Arbor Day

CALABASAS, CA — Students from Chaparral Elementary School teamed up with members of the Calabasas community to plant flowers, trees and other plants on the Chaparral campus to celebrate Arbor Day.

Parent, student, school staff and other volunteers on March 12 planted over 50 flowers, various plants and seven trees on Chaparral Elementary's campus, according to Alex Farassati, Environmental Services Supervisor for the city of Calabasas.

It was the city's 23rd annual recognition of Arbor Day, which is recognized across the country as a day to plant and celebrate trees. This year, Arbor Day will be celebrated on April 29 in California.

Every year the city chooses a different Calabasas area to revamp with fresh greenery in partnership with a local school. Last year's celebrations focused on Las Virgenes Creek, replacing trees that were burned during the 2018 Woolsey fire.

This year's pick was particularly meaningful for Mayor Mary Sue Maurer considering her three sons all went to Chaparral Elementary, she said in a video about Arbor Day.

The city of Calabasas was designated a "Tree City" by the Arbor Day Foundation 23 years ago. The "Tree City USA" program recognizes 3,676 cities across the country for their urban forestry efforts and commitment to tree care.

"Our campus is a very special place for our students and families and our community. It's been here for a very long time, over 60 years, and this beautification project makes it even more of a special school," said Lindsay Vaisman, co-President of the Chaparral Elementary Parent Faculty Club.