COEUR d'ALENE — Planting a tree today is a gift for generations that will enjoy its shade in the future.

That is one of the many reasons volunteers have gathered ahead of Arbor Day for 41 years to ensure local fourth graders have seedlings they can plant and enjoy throughout their lives.

"A lot of people might ask, 'Why would you do that if you're not around to see it?'" said Bruce Martinek of Rathdrum, who retired from the U.S. Forest Service Bureau of Land Management and serves on the Coeur d'Alene Urban Forestry Committee.

"That's a valid point," he said, "but somebody will."

Martinek said he likes the idea of giving trees to families with children, who will grow up with them and maybe participate in Arbor Day tree giveaway programs when they're adults. If 2-3% of them take that forward, it will all be worth it, he said.

"I have a picture of my daughter planting a tree in Coeur d'Alene City Park for Arbor Day," Kootenai County Arbor Day Program volunteer Sharon McNeil said, wearing a blue shirt with "Yay! Trees!" in yellow print on the front.

Her daughter was about 9 when she planted the Arbor Day tree. Another photo was taken with the tree when her daughter was 18.

The retired Avista forester shared this Arbor Day memory as she prepared tags to be attached to seedlings that were bagged Tuesday morning at the Idaho Department of Lands in Coeur d'Alene. 

The nonprofit Arbor Day Organization of North Idaho coordinated the event, giving seedlings to about 2,000 fourth graders at public and private schools across Kootenai County. Some will also go to local libraries to give to their young patrons.

Arbor Day of North Idaho has given away over 90,000 trees of more than 70 different species to local fourth graders since 1986.

McNeil has volunteered to help with dipping, bagging, tagging, bundling and organizing seedlings for the giveaway for 35 years.

"I come for the trees," she said. "I'm in it for the trees. If we don't do it, the kids don't know."

This year's arboreal offerings include deciduous and flowering trees: Zelkova, eastern redbud, katsura, kousa dogwood and purple lilacs.

"I've done this for probably 10 years or so," North Idaho College arborist J.D. Reeves said as he worked on dipping lilac seedlings into a nutritious, moisturizing solution.

Aside from students learning all about Arbor Day and the importance of caring for trees, Reeves said he volunteers because this program promotes tree diversity throughout the community.

"We're surrounded by Ponderosa pines, and if one species of tree has an issue, if you have too many of those, you can have some real problems," he said.

About 30 volunteers participated in the seedling sacking party, which cost about $5,000. Local timber and tree care industries generously provided most of the financial support, which primarily goes toward purchasing seedlings.

"By Friday, all the fourth graders in the whole county should have theirs," Arbor Day Organization of North Idaho President John Schwandt said.

    Bruce Martinek and Emma Richardson prepare eastern redbud seedlings for distribution on Tuesday morning at the Idaho Department of Lands in Coeur d'Alene. About 2,000 fourth graders across Kootenai County will receive seedlings this week through the 41st annual Kootenai County Arbor Day Program.
  

    Kootenai County Arbor Day Program volunteer and retired forester Sharon McNeil shares Arbor Day memories as she prepares tags to be attached to seedlings on Tuesday morning at the Idaho Department of Lands in Coeur d'Alene. "I'm in it for the trees," she said.