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Ryan Gloyer Middle School students embark on Tree Planting Blitz in Cranberry Township

Ryan Gloyer Middle School students AJ Hart, left, Cadence Pile and Maddie Brown plant trees near Hillcrest Drive as part of the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors Project of the Year, which consists of a cooperative partnership between Cranberry Township, Seneca Valley School District, First Energy and Penn Power, where volunteers plant trees and rake leaves in the Cranberry Township community, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

Dozens of Ryan Gloyer Middle School students ventured outside the classroom to rake leaves and plant 158 trees along the winding tributary of Brush Creek on Wednesday morning, Nov. 20, in Cranberry Township.

Their efforts began last year as part of the 2023 Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors Project and expanded for this year’s edition. The program features a cooperative partnership between the Cranberry Township, Seneca Valley School District, First Energy and Penn Power.

“The kids are always absolutely thrilled to do it,” said Mike Manipole, Cranberry Township supervisors chairman and event organizer. “We try to take about 50 kids in the fall, and then we take the entire school in the spring and go to all nine municipalities in the school district. The program has been a huge success.”

The second year of the budding educational program allowed students to connect with First Energy scientist Jessica Shaffer, state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, and others. Last year, students planted 216 trees throughout the township.

The Tree Planting Blitz has paired with Cranberry Township’s multimillion dollar streambank restoration project, which aims to stabilize areas around Brush Creek tributaries to counteract erosion and preserve animal habitats.

To stay on brand with that mission, the group planted some variations of willows and redbuds, two species of trees that grow well around water.

“We believe in sustainable environments in the township,” Manipole said. “We’re just trying to do our part as much as we can. We know a lot of trees come down, and we want to try and replace as many as we can.”

Ryan Gloyer Middle School student Dominic Mignanelli digs a hole to plant a tree near Hillcrest Drive as part of the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors Project of the Year, which consists of a cooperative partnership between Cranberry Township, Seneca Valley School District, First Energy and Penn Power, where volunteers plant trees and rake leaves in the Cranberry Township community, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Ryan Gloyer Middle School student Dean Hoover plants trees near Hillcrest Drive as part of the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors Project of the Year, which consists of a cooperative partnership between Cranberry Township, Seneca Valley School District, First Energy and Penn Power, where volunteers plant trees and rake leaves in the Cranberry Township community, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Ryan Gloyer Middle School student AJ Hart plants trees near Hillcrest Drive as part of the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors Project of the Year, which consists of a cooperative partnership between Cranberry Township, Seneca Valley School District, First Energy and Penn Power, where volunteers plant trees and rake leaves in the Cranberry Township community, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Ryan Gloyer Middle School student Rylan Lehmeier rakes leaves at Windsor Court as part of the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors Project of the Year, which consists of a cooperative partnership between Cranberry Township, Seneca Valley School District, First Energy and Penn Power, where volunteers plant trees and rake leaves in the Cranberry Township community, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Ryan Gloyer Middle School student Ashton Vorhes rakes leaves at Windsor Court as part of the 2024 Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors Project of the Year, which consists of a cooperative partnership between Cranberry Township, Seneca Valley School District, First Energy and Penn Power, where volunteers plant trees and rake leaves in the Cranberry Township community, on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle

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