Planting trees brought the community together through volunteer work and helped repair damage done to the environment by humans and non-native plants.

The AP environmental science class took a field trip on Jan. 13, where they planted 700 saplings in North Acres Park with TreeFolks, an Austin-based organization that plants trees across Texas and helps Texans care for their trees.

“Students planted saplings to help further establish native vegetation in the riparian zone along the creek in that area,” environmental science teacher Ashley Spiro said. “Riparian zones serve as important buffers that can biologically filter water entering the creek, which ultimately leads to the Colorado River.”

North Acres Park is a small park in North Austin along Little Walnut Creek that is taken care of by neighbors in the area who are going to pick up any trash, remove invasive species, and generally work to keep the park beautiful and wild.

“We love working with students, and when the teacher, Ms. Spiro, asked to bring students, we said ‘yes’,” TreeFolks Community Engagement Manager Nell Newton said.

Students went on the trip to help plant about 20 different tree species and rebuild the park through volunteer hours and a lot of teamwork.

“My favorite part of the field trip was seeing everyone work together to not only plant the trees, but there was a lot of trash that was collected and even a shopping cart that three of the boys helped some of the adults get out from by a drop off,” junior Mia Barbosa said. “Everyone really worked hard to do their part and it was awesome to be a part of it.”

The area was over mowed and the topsoil was loose and washing away with rain, so TreeFolks jumped in with students to help the park grow back to its full potential without non-native trees in the mix.

“Often the first species to jump back are non-natives like ligustrum, they are an escaped landscaping plant that is now clogging our waterways and crowding out native species,” Newton said. “By removing the ligustrum and replanting native species, we’ll start to see a more stable environment with good habitat and food for wildlife.”

Employers from a local Kendra Scott jewelry store and the neighbors who help take care of