Brian Payne, Dawson Payne, Amber Payne and Colby Payne are shown with one of the new trees planted at Smith Elementary.
Local elementary students are also contributing to the bicentennial tree planting project.
Sixth-grader and student council co-president Colby Payne, 11, organized a Nov. 2 tree planting at Smith Elementary, with several other students taking part in the effort. The planting included five Kentucky coffeetrees and three redbuds that now surround the playground.
“This work is now part of the Bicentennial Project for Bartholomew County to plant 200 trees,” school officials wrote. “It’s also a great example of why BCSC and Columbus, Indiana is such a special place.”
Airport Director Brian Payne said that his son came up with the idea while the two of them were discussing what he would do if elected to student council again.
“I said, ‘Well, why don’t you think bigger about it? Think, how can you do something that will affect students for years to come?’” Payne recalled. “And almost immediately, he said that they don’t have enough shade on the playground.”
Colby’s idea was to add more trees to the area to provide more shade. So Payne contacted Eric Riddle, who is chairman of the Columbus Pollinator Committee and has been involved with organizing the bicentennial project. Riddle came up with a list of about 20 trees, which Payne passed on to Colby.
Payne said Colby researched which species he wanted, taking care to avoid trees with allergens or any growths that could be thrown by kids. After Colby had come up with two species, he and Payne discussed the general plan for where trees could go on the playground to provide good shade.
“He came up with a plan, and I printed him out some aerials,” Payne said. “And he drew where he wanted to plant the trees in this aerial and submitted it to his principal, Principal (Casey) Voelz. And then it just so happened that Dr. (Jim) Roberts was there at that time, so he presented it to Dr. Roberts as well.”
They also discussed the plan with Director of Operations Brett Boezeman. Riddle then ordered the trees.
Colby worked with student council and created a flier about the project, said Payne. The sixth grader also took on a leadership role during the event, doing work such as handing out shovels and assigning locations. Fourteen student council members from fifth and sixth grade helped with the planting.
Payne was pleased by the the turnout from students — as well as their initiative.
“They really did the work,” Payne said. “I also thought, ‘Oh, the kids are going to show up, but I’m going to be the one with the shovel the whole time.’ And the kids did the work.”
Heather Shireman with the Bartholomew County Soil and Water Conservation District also attended the event and used the first tree to show students how to plant the others. The kids then split into small groups.
“We went through and just made sure that the tree was in the right location, made sure it was in a straight line, but the kids did all of the work,” he said.
