[ Kids Chattering ]
[ Music ]
>> Everyday people say what difference can I make?
What deeds can I do, what action can I take?
Well now is the time for you and me to find a spot, dig a hole and plant a young tree.
These trees, releasing sweet oxygen.
These trees, the monkeys and the birds are living in.
These trees, limbs stretching up towards the sky.
Oh, these trees, absorbing all the carbon dioxide.
Big trees, green leaves, deep roots in the ground.
The branches grow up, as the bark grows around.
[ Music ]
So plant your tree that you prefer.
The deciduous or the conifer.
Dig a hole deep, keep the roots straight.
Put that tree in the ground, water it and wait.
Water and wait.
And as that tree grows give it care, so it will thrive and grow when you're not there.
Because as that tree grows tall and strong, you can watch it grow all your life long.
>> Trees have a way of making people notice them, especially in the fall.
I've been looking after this guy every Saturday for six years now.
But I don't mind, this guys' been good to me.
Good to all of us, actually.
We should do more than just notice them.
[ Music ]
Trees give us oxygen, food, they clean our air, cool us down and make our cities look good.
And on top of that, these leaves make great compost, too.
They do so much for us, we should do something for them.
After all, they're really our trees.
If we don't plant more trees and take care of the one's we do have, who will?
What's great is there's a well conceived kid tree program going on.
Tree crusaders are popping up all over the country.
>> Here we are.
Where are you going to put it?
>> In Salem, Oregon, there's a group called Earth Kids.
They're making a difference in a lot of ways.
They adopt trees and promise to take care of them.
They also plant trees all around Salem.
But the coolest thing about Earth Kids is their computer.
They talk with the kids in Sweden or Texas or anywhere they're doing cool stuff with trees.
>> Eco Project here in Brownsville, Texas.
Maybe you already know--
>> Marshall Gilmore helped the Earth Kids get it together.
>> The Earth Kids is more based around getting schools, churches, organizations,
things such as [audio interrupts] to one another doing activities together.
We had a group in Nova Scotia that beamed in a message about our CO2 challenge
that they were happy to know that they were not alone.
>> The network is a lot like telling your best friend a secret.
By the time you turn around, the entire world knows.
[jet engine] Then there's the story of the kids who got fed up with the jet powered noise
of the Los Angeles International Airport.
Problem? Noise.
[jet engine] Solution?
Trees. Tress clean up the air in a lot of different ways.
Sucking up noise pollution is just one.
They convinced the City Council that trees would do the trick.
They also supervised the planting.
Turning down the airport noise, turned up the groups confidence.
They went on to form the only kid controlled, non-profit corporation in the world.
It's called Tree Musketeers.
>> It was one of the initial techniques used by the founders of Tree Musketeers to go appear
at City Council as constituents and say we want to plant trees.
And they've made just an amazing difference in their own community.
And now they're reaching out to kids at other communities and pointing to the example
of what they've been able to accomplish in their own hometown, hoping other kids will be inspired
or feel empowered to take on City Hall if necessary in order to demand the opportunity
to improve their quality of life.
>> What is Arbor Day?
>> My dad always says, "You can't expect something for nothing."
These guys must be listening to him.
>> Do you still have the pepper tree?
>> I don't have any idea.
>> Tree Musketeers hand out trees, but they also make sure you take care of them.
>> I will always remember how special my newborn baby tree is to me and the environment.
>> [in unison] I will always remember how special my newborn baby tree is to all-- to me.
[ Music ]
>> These kids in Utah are battling the destruction of rain forests.
>> We were studying trees and the kids discovered that there were large chunks
of the rain forest being burned down every year, became concerned.
And I remember asking them, okay, if this is happening
in Brazil, what can you do right here now?
Is there anything you can do?
Can kids make a difference?
>> The group, Leaf It To Us, went on to plant nearly two hundred trees around their school,
in a park and in their backyards.
They went one step further and got a lot changed,
so that the kids across the country could get money to buy trees to plant.
Barbara Lewis is their teacher.
>> Three years ago is someone had told me that my students were going to be responsible
for the planting of over ninety thousand dollars worth of trees in Utah, that they would apply
for grants that adults would not receive and they would and that they would be going back
to the Congress in Washington D.C. and emending a national law, I would have said no way.
Wait a minute, these are just fourth, fifth and sixth graders.
They're amazing.
You're amazing.
You can do everything they did.
>> If everyone would take care of their own neighborhood [audio interrupts] place.
That's the thinking in Philadelphia.
>> Whoever cut this tree, they cut it wrong because they cut it too close to the--
>> There, kids receive training through the cities Youth Corp Tree Program.
>> I'm from Youth Tree Corp and I want to help-- and I want to help you fix up your tree.
>> They learn and practice their delivery.
>> But how much is this going to cost me?
>> Nothing.
>> Hmm, knock yourself out.
>> Then they head out to take care of the trees in the neighborhood.
Philadelphia has a big neglect problem.
Seven trees die or are removed for every one that is planted.
Nationally, the average is one in four.
So, it's a good idea to get out there and hit the streets.
There are plenty of ways to get involved and plenty of people wanting to help.
>> Where would we be without trees?
>> What does glucose do in the trees?
>> The little roots can't absorb nutrients--
>> Put the soil back in and tap in around it, all right?
>> A forester in Elmo, Montana, teaches a group tree planting basics.
The next thing you know, a wind break is planted in the park.
[ Music ]
With the help of their biology teacher, kids in Los Angeles form a group called Earth Niños.
They keep their neighborhood and beyond looking good.
>> We're going to keep on trying until we make the world a better place.
>> The point is, we have to look for ways to make an impact.
Find helpers in your communities, people like teachers,
your state forester and local nursery can help.
Advice is easy to find.
People want to work with us.
Don't be afraid to talk with business leaders or the City Council, like Tree Musketeers did.
They'll listen if they know you're serious.
That's half the fun [audio interrupts] if you just take the time.
Take my dad for instance, he doesn't think he has time for trees.
He's too busy working, but I'm working on him.
I smile when I rake, it drives him crazy.
He automatically thinks I'm up to something.
But if he knew what I know, he'd be out here helping me.
Taking care of trees is one way we can have a major impact on our environment.
Whether we're planting, adopting or making sure that the tree in our backyard grows
up strong, you just have to do something.
Don't be content to let someone else do it.
Feel good doing good things for trees.
Get out there by yourself or with a group.
We can make a big difference.
And remember, they're our trees.
>> Trees are terrific!
>> Plant a tree!
>> Trees are terrific!
>> Everyday people say what difference can I make?
What deeds can I do, what action can I take?
Well now is the time for you and me to find a spot, dig a hole and plant a young tree.
These trees, releasing sweet oxygen.
These trees, the monkeys and the birds are living in.
These trees, limbs stretching up towards the sky.
Oh, these trees, absorbing all the carbon dioxide.
So plant your tree that you prefer.
The deciduous or the conifer.
Dig a hole deep, keep the roots straight.
Put that tree in the ground, water it and wait.
Water and wait.
And as that tree grows give it care, so it will thrive and grow when you're not there.
Because as that tree grows tall and strong, you can watch it grow all your life long.
[ Music ]
[ Silence ]