WINONA LAKE - Boy Scout Troop 715, Warsaw, Sunday celebrated Earth Day early by planting trees in Winona Lake.
Earth Day is Tuesday, and nine Boy Scouts and two Eagle Scouts from the troop planted three Red Sunset Maple trees Sunday afternoon in Winona Lake.
Aaron Wilcoxson, 1000 Park BAK-AFE manager, said the business sold 200 magnets at the store with the proceeds going toward purchasing the trees from Ace Hardware, Warsaw. The trees were provided by Ace Hardware at a reduced rate.Two of the trees were planted north of the Administration building on Park Avenue.
Another tree was planted south of the building. The trees were planted along a sidewalk.
The Scouts dug holes, planted the trees, watered them and put mulch around the trees.
Wilcoxson contacted Troop Leader Scott McClintock about the troop volunteering to plant the trees.
"We lost three mature trees over the last several years in the town, and the trees planted will replace those trees," Wilcoxson said.
McClintock said the troop was honored to plant the trees.
"I hope the Boy Scouts get a feel for community service," McClintock said.
Boy Scout Jonathan Tinkey, who is an eighth-grader at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, said he was happy to volunteer.
"I'm happy to be a part of this because it is a good way to help the community," Tinkey said.
Boy Scout Aaron Jones, a sixth-grader at Washington Elementary, also said he was happy to be a part of the tree planting.
"It's great to feel you have helped out the town in some way," Jones said.
Boy Scout Landon Slone, an eighth-grader at Edgewood Middle School, said he hopes the trees will improve the town's landscape.
"It's great to give back to the community and make the town's landscape better," Slone said.
Ace Hardware owner Jim Maize said the business was happy to sell the trees at a reduced rate. He said the business has sold trees at a reduced rate to other organizations in the past.
"Ace Hardware hopes the project teaches the Scouts how to plant trees and have the opportunity to participate in community service," Maize said.
