College Student from Eureka Teaches Preschool Children About Trees

Much to the delight of Missouri-based Fulton Preschool children, members of the Knowing the Woods Club at William Woods University (WWU) recently presented a program about trees. Eureka native Brittany Lenhart was one of the WWU student participants.

WWU students provided an educational program for the youngsters, and read Lois Ehlert's book, "Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf."

After the reading, the preschoolers entertained the William Woods students by performing a song and dance about falling leaves.

This was the third year members of Knowing the Woods presented a tree-related program to the youngsters as a service-learning project, and Lenhart said group members are looking forward to planning and participating in future events.

The project was a learning experience, not only for the preschoolers, but for the members of the Knowing the Woods Club, who learned that trying to get children at such a young age to understand why trees are so important to the environment and communities was a difficult task.

Involved in the project were Brittany Lenhart of Eureka, president; and club members Erica Begley of Hannibal, MO; Sadie Herrick of Washington, MO; Courtney Slotar of Simi Valley, CA; Darian Lightfoot of Fort Madison, IA; Elsa Stiles of Franklin, NC; and Katherine Wortmann of Mexico, MO.

"The children enjoyed visiting with the college students," she said. "They became more aware of what a gift trees are to us; that they provide more than shade and leaves to jump in during the fall," said Sue Beaty, Fulton Preschool director.