Volunteers plant oak trees in tornado-damaged portion of DuPage County

Posted May 18, 2023 11:00 pm

By Carissa Nelson and Rosie Ralston University of Illinois Extension

Ambereen Yousuf of Downers Grove and her children plant one of 25 oak trees as part of the 4-H Green Communities Project in Woodridge. The family is part of High Hopes 4-H Club in DuPage County. Courtesy of University of Illinois Extension

Boundary Hills in DuPage County is now home to 25 new oak trees thanks to local 4-H youth, community members, and organizations. The group of oak trees, known as a savanna, will help restore this tornado-damaged area, as well as supplement oak-hickory forests currently under threat in Illinois.

"Oak savannas are being overtaken by invasive species, as well as more shade-tolerant trees, such as maples," said Curt Sinclair, University of Illinois Extension 4-H specialist. "The natural world is talking to us, and Illinois 4-H is primed to listen, learn, and act."

On April 2, local volunteers, including 4-H families, Master Gardeners, and Master Naturalists, team up to plant a mix of bur, red, and white oak trees in an area damaged by a June 2021 tornado. Courtesy of University of Illinois Extension

Illinois 4-H partnered with Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts to help bolster local forests by planting 950 oak trees in 38 counties this spring.

The 4-H Green Communities Tree Program tackles global issues at a local level by combining the "learn by doing" philosophy of 4-H with guidance of the Illinois Forest Action Plan.

When combined with the 2022 plantings, this effort brought a total of 1,725 new oak trees to our state.

On April 2, local volunteers - including 4-H families, Master Gardeners, and Master Naturalists - teamed up to plant a mix of bur, red, and white oak species in an area damaged by a June 2021 tornado.

The new savanna is a step toward restoring the site that lost an estimated 300 mature trees.

The Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District provided the trees and mulch, and staff of Woodridge Park District, University of Illinois Extension, and SWCD gave guidance and provided a tree planting demonstration.

Volunteers walk through Boundary Hills in Woodridge. As part of the 4-H Green Communities Project, they planted 25 new oak trees in the area damaged by a June 2021 tornado. Courtesy of University of Illinois Extension

"It was wonderful to see everyone come together and dig in to help 4-H with this effort," said Nancy Reppe, 4-H Program Coordinator in DuPage County. "Together, we're making a difference for the environment and future generations. The 4-H youth learned how to plant and mulch trees properly, and we look forward to watching these oak trees grow over time."

To help support this project, visit go.illinois.edu/4hgreencommunity.

Prairie Materials provided support for this program. Learn more about 4-H in DuPage, Kane, and Kendall counties at go.illinois.edu/info4Hdkk.

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