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Diva Dibblers Stevi Valenzuela, Khloe Owen, Allie Grifalconi Mandel and Adie Waltner in Sacramento April 1, 2017 - photo courtesy Mia Mandel

Diva Dibblers Show Their Tree Planting Skills At Earth Day

Written by Mia Mandel —

NORTH FORK — Come celebrate our Destination Imagination champions at Earth Day on Saturday, Apr. 22, in North Fork.

Our local North Fork tree-planting team has been awarded third place in the state of California at a tournament in Sacramento!

The Fantabulous 4 Diva Dibblers met a challenge put forth by Destination Imagination, a national organization which encourages students to work as a team, build creative solutions, and impact their community in a positive way by addressing a real need. The Dibblers definitely accomplished all those goals with this project.

These North Fork School students chose the massive pine tree death in the area as the need, and have planted 98 trees so far to improve the situation. They named their team after a special tree-planting tool, the dibble, which has the same dimensions as the conical tube in which the seedlings grew.

Ray LeClerque and Bonnie Bladen donated the use of this tool, as well as a forestry hoe and McLeod to facilitate ease and proper planting.

The seedlings, donated by Intermountain Nursery in Auberry, were tucked into the yards of numerous people, even as more dead trees were hauled away.

Homeowners greeting the seedlings with tremendous enthusiasm, sometimes even tears. The hopefulness and joy that the girls encountered as a result of their efforts has inspired them more than ever.

The Team is presently working hard to raise enough money to participate in a national tournament, the Destination Imagination Global Finals. Kids from all over the country and the world will come together in Knoxville, Tenn., at the end of May. There, “the world’s most innovative students compete in teams to showcase their Challenge solutions” (globalfinals.org).

North Fork Earth Day events will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at North Fork Elementary School, will include the Dibblers’ live theatrical presentation. There will also be a table set up where you can meet the team in person and learn more about their efforts.

Watch for more opportunities in the coming month to support the team as they continue the important work of helping to restore our local trees.

For more information, please email nftreeplant@gmail.com or call (559) 676-1541.

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