“Treena” Takes Root with Girl Scouts

On August 12, 2025 Taking Root hosted Girl Scout Troop 4844 at Cardinal Land Conservancy’s headquarters in Loveland, OH. Six Brownies, along with parents and leaders, worked with Taking Root to plant a Bur Oak and three flowering perennial “neighbors” of the tree.

They dug the holes, prepared the roots, placed the tree, repositioned the soil, and gave the latest woody addition to the preserve plenty of water to settle it in. And, like a beloved cat or dog receives a name when joining a family, the girls voted on a name for their special tree: “Treena”.

The girls discussed the various benefits of trees to humans, animals, and the planet, sharing their knowledge, which was quite a lot! To ensure “Treena’s” continued success, parents of the Brownies created a roster of watering responsibility.

Jack Stenger, Cardinal’s Director of Conservation, was on hand to thank the Scouts for their passion and their effort. He graciously gifted each girl a Cardinal t-shirt. The girls also received a book from Taking Root: “The Man Who Planted Trees” by Jean Giono. Published in 1953, the book perfectly depicts the effects that planting trees can have on a community and an ecosystem. The idea is for each Brownie to read the book and share it with others to “pay forward” all that they learned during their tree planting experience.

Taking Root hopes to work with other Scout troops in the future to plant trees in their communities. Long may “Treena” thrive!

(Thanks to everyone who made this planting a success: Phil Sommer from Bowyer Farm; Susan Fox, Lauren Enda and Michael Enda from Taking Root; and Jack Stenger from Cardinal Land Conservancy).