Stephen Redner, execitive director of Kids 4 Trees, met with Tim Williams of the U.S. Forestry Service after a recent planting event in the mountains over Malibu.  Williams suggested Redner plan an event in the Los Padres National Forest.  While in the planning stages, Redner read about the newly formed and local Veterans for Trees, the two got together and our local forest has grown by close to 700 new seedlings as of this afternoon.

Redner started Kids 4 Trees in 2008 and sees it as an effort to not only enrich our forests but get kids off the T.V., video games, computers; to get them outdoors and into some natural surroundings.  He said kids today suffer from NDD, Nature Deficit Disorder, and many of those that participate are touching the earth for the first time; learning that they can have a positive impact on the environment.

Close to 300 Kern County kids showed on Friday and another 50 - 70 joined in today. Between 300 and 400 seedlings were planted in Apache Saddle on Friday and about 250 - 300 more were planted today near the Boy Scout camp on Mil Potrero Highway. 

Today, after some brief presentations by Stephen Redner, Richard Sheffield and some safety instruction by the U.S. Forestry Service, we walked or hiked almost a half mile to the planting site where rangers had pre-drilled hundreds of holes.

The groups were joined by Olympic athletes Tracy Mattes (women's 400 meter hurdles '96 Olympic Trials) and Reynaldo Brown (high jumper during '68 and '72).  Smoky the Bear even made an appearance on Friday.

It was a great time for all.  Not once did this reporter hear "I'm bored" or any of the characteristic complaints from kids.  Each one seemed to enjoy the experience.  Most if not all were industrious and eager to plant more as each seedling was carefully set in place and watered.

Richard Sheffield, Reynaldo Brown, Stephen Redner (click to enlarge)

Richard Sheffield said all materials were provided by the U.S. Forestry Service.  Seeds were collected in the area planted today, raised in a greenhouse in Placerville and have returned home.