 | | Dr. Charles helped members of the class of 2016 plant a tree and spoke about the wonder of watching a tree slowly grow and change. |
On Arbor Day IC students and their families can appreciate the growth of trees they have planted in celebration of past Arbor Days as they prepare the ground to plant again this year. Trees are the best friends humans have for many reasons. The mutual benefit of the relationship between our two respiratory systems is perfect in its design and function. The protection of shade is an experience every one has in their memory. The beauty of branches and leaves reaching for the sun is a universal artistic theme.
 | | Dr. Georges Thome shares his knowledge and his passion for the trees and flowers of Lebanon. | In observation of Arbor Day and in recognition of our dependence on trees, the IC community, as it does every year, is doing its part in the reforestation of Lebanon. Ain Aar began its Arbor Day activities with a parent seminar at which Dr. Georges Tohme showed slides and gave a lecture on the trees and wildflowers of Lebanon’s past and present. Dr. Tohme, a former Lebanese University president, has been researching this subject for fifty years and shared his knowledge with parents and friends. There had been a decline in the number of trees in Lebanon during decades at the end of the last century. Now, Dr. Tohme reports, trees are beginning to come back in a way vital enough to support the return of some animals that had disappeared with the old forests. Dr. Tohme’s audience was also interested to learn there are at this time, 2,790 different species of wildflowers in Lebanon. Such wonderful diversity!
 | | Ain Aar students sang for the celebration of planting trees on campus. |
Each year IC’s various schools solicit the Ministry of Agriculture for saplings to plant around campus on Arbor Day. This year for instance, 1,500 trees were sent to Ain Aar to put in the ground at school and to send home with every student who wishes to take one. As is the custom, students celebrated with song before planting trees. This year at Ain Aar a row of young evergreens has been planted the length of the driveway in front of school, directly across from the maturing trees planted in previous Arbor Day ceremonies.
 | | Children in Ras Beirut Preschool learn how to put a tree in the ground. |
On the Ras Beirut campus students participated in the same activities. Preschool children helped to spread dirt on the roots in a garden near the preschool building. Elementary students added their new trees to a Ras Beirut Elementary project that has continued for several years; the forestation of the median divider along the Corniche.
 | | Ras Beirut students adding to the forest in the median divider that was begun by their predecessors. |
 | | Dr. Charles helping Ras Beirut Elementary students pack dirt in over the roots of one of the Arbor Day trees. |
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