Mountain-climbing to plant trees

STEAM Nha Trang members go climbing to plant trees on the sunny slopes of Co Tien or Fairy Mountain in Vinh Hoa Ward, Nha Trang City every weekend afternoon over the past 1 month. 

 

Mountain-climbing for tree cultivation

 

Green space is on the decrease due to climate change and human impacts on mountains over the past years. Therefore, STEAM Nha Trang has come up with the idea to plant trees on mountains, contributing to regenerating green eco-system and expanding positive effectiveness among communities.

 

Planting trees on the barren, rocky slopes of the Fairy Mountain is not easy. To help plants survive and thrive, the team members incubated the seedlings in nursery home gardens and make a drip irrigation with plastic bottles to ensure the watering for 3-4 days, according to Teacher Pham Vu Thanh An, Vo Van Ky Junior High School, Chief of STEAM Nha Trang. 

 

 

 

 

The group has consulted the Provincial Association for the Protection of Nature and Environment and chosen the Red lauan for cultivation. The tree cultivation started at weekend after preparing the land, water and seedlings. Seedlings are planted under shady trees with the drip irrigation to ensure sufficient growing conditions. Student Phan Nguyen Minh Tien, Nha Trang Junior High School, a member of STEAM Nha Trang said, “I have experienced for the first time planting seedlings and trees. It is so much fun.”

 

Promoting love for nature

 

According to Teacher Pham Vu Thanh An, the group members take turns to climb the mountain to take care of planted trees twice a week. More than 50 trees are growing after more than 1 month. Through the experiential learning with mountain-climbing to plant trees, teachers hope students have an enjoyable and rewarding summer break. The activities not only help both teachers and students to improve health but also teach students how to prepare seedlings right at home, inspiring the love for living surroundings and raising awareness of natural and environmental protection.

 

In the coming time, the group will continue expanding the planting of trees on the Fairy Mountain. This activity has received support of students' parents, many of whom had registered to join their children’s mountain-climbing to plant trees together. Besides, thanks to the support and partnership of the Provincial Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment and the Department of Education and Training, in the near future, the STEAM Nha Trang has planned to deploy larger-scale tree planting programs to promote natural protection awareness in the community.

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STEAM Nha Trang is a group of teachers and students from primary and high schools in Nha Trang City with more than 20 members so far. The teachers provide knowledge and skills through real life topics and lessons using STEAM, an Education approach in the early childhood to help inspire creativeness, develop professional skills and create competencies in the future.

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C.T

Translated by N.T