A student-led environmental initiative in Southwest Michigan is continuing to grow its community impact while supporting conservation efforts and local partnerships.
Trees Across Berrien distributed more than 300 tree saplings this week to elementary students in Buchanan, Berrien Springs, and Niles as part of an Earth Day outreach effort. The program, led by Niles High School freshman Samuel Lundberg, is now in its fifth year and has delivered more than 1,400 trees to schoolchildren across Berrien County.
The distribution effort is supported through a partnership with the Berrien Conservation District, which provides access to saplings and coordinates its annual tree sale. High school volunteers from the Berrien Math and Science Center assisted with bundling trees for school distribution and preparing inventory for the public sale during a Day of Service held April 19 at the Berrien County Fairgrounds.
That collaboration highlights a mutually beneficial relationship, as student volunteers help streamline operations for the district’s annual sale while also expanding the reach of the nonprofit’s educational mission. Lundberg said the partnership has been key to sustaining and growing the program’s impact.
“We couldn’t do this without the support of the Berrien Conservation District and appreciate our partnership to help get trees sapling out to elementary children in our area and teach them the importance of trees to our environment,” said Lundberg.
As part of the initiative, student volunteers also engage directly with younger students, combining environmental education with hands-on distribution. Lundberg and classmate Zarrah Dyer visited kindergarten classrooms at Eastside Connections in Niles, where they handed out saplings and read environmentally themed books focused on conservation and stewardship.
The effort is designed not only to promote environmental awareness but also to instill early engagement with sustainability practices. Lundberg said each tree is paired with a message emphasizing the importance of environmental responsibility, reinforcing the educational component of the program.
“Each tree comes with a message about the importance of helping our environment,” said Lundberg. “It’s really fun teaching younger students that regardless of their size, everyone can do their part.”
This year’s distribution included 129 trees to Moccasin Elementary in Buchanan, 45 to Eastside Connections in Niles, 51 to St. Mary School in Niles, and 80 to Trinity Lutheran School in Berrien Springs.
By combining volunteer labor, educational outreach, and coordination with an established conservation organization, Trees Across Berrien continues to operate as a grassroots model of community-based environmental service. The initiative demonstrates how student-led efforts can contribute to both local environmental goals and broader community engagement while supporting the operations of partner organizations.
