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Rabiner Students Plant Trees for FDSA

Geoff Morehead was excited to be outside of the classroom Monday afternoon.

The vocational student from Rabiner Treatment Center and seven other classmates spent some time in the sun planting Austree saplings, a hybrid tree from New Zealand, at the Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex.

Tree planting for the Fort Dodge Soccer Association is one of two service projects the vocational students completed this year, according to Geri Winge, career educator.

"They\'re learning the proper way to plant trees, and we\'ve been studying ways to reduce carbon emissions, such as planting trees," Winge said.

The Austrees will grow 5 to 15 feet a year and were planted on the south side of the soccer complex as windbreaks. The trees\' life span is 20 to 50 years.

Besides learning how to properly plant the trees, Mike Dolata, an educator at Rabiner, taught the students to use a Ground Hog mechanical earth drill.

The piece of equipment made digging holes for the 200 trees far easier than using spades. R & J Material Handling of Fort Dodge donated the drill to the group for the week.

"The program gives them a chance to learn in a new way," Winge said. "We\'re planting as many as we can today, but with 200 total, we\'ll be back this week to finish."

Morehead said this is one of the first jobs he\'s done with the program.

"It sure is better than being in school, I can tell you that," Morehead said.

He and the others will have other educational opportunities outside the classroom, according to Winge.

The vocational program has cultivated relationships with the Humane Society of North Central Iowa, Best Western Starlite Village and Habitat for Humanity.

The first service project the students completed was a fundraiser for the Humane Society.

The group sold pet treats on campus, but before the sales took place, students created a cost analysis, a marketing survey, posters and gave a presentation about their sale to the center\'s CEO Brad Klug.

"They really took ownership and pride in the project," Winge said. "That\'s our goal, to ensure that they feel pride in their educational system."

Their efforts brought in $180 for the Humane Society.

Winge said out of the eight students, three are actively employed within the Webster County community.