LIMESTONE – Tusculum University students and a local Cub Scout pack joined forces to help a state park decimated by the flooding from Hurricane Helene with its recovery efforts.
Eleven students in the Serving Learning in Northeast Tennessee class collaborated with Sequoyah Council Cub Scout Pack 93 Saturday, April 5, to plant 50 seedlings in David Crockett Birthplace State Park. Participants broke into three groups and planted various types of trees in spots selected by Chelsea Walters, a park ranger at the 105-acre park. Officials with the park estimate 60-65% of the grounds were flooded when the aftereffects of Helene roared through Greene County and other parts of the region.
“As a fellow member of the Greene County community, Tusculum was touched when we learned about the damage the park sustained,” said Dr. Shelby Ward, assistant professor of political science and the teacher of the service learning class. “We are pleased to be able to assist the park on its road toward recovery and to team with the Cub Scouts. These trees will help the park. They will contribute to better air quality and biodiversity, and it is also important that all of the trees we are planting are native to Tennessee.”…