Planting trees in Chatham-Kent schoolyards remains an ongoing initiative with CK Public Health.
Officials said the goal is to create shade for students across the municipality, which provides twofold health benefits – keeping kids cool during periods of high heat, and helping to lessen the chances of skin cancer.
One bad sunburn before the age of 18 doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma, the most serious and fatal form of skin cancer, according to public health officials.
Added natural shade can help reduce high ultraviolet radiation exposure.
“Trees are most effective at providing protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation and cooling schoolyards,” officials said.
They added that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and most cases are preventable.
The board of health recently received an update on the project.
From 2013 to 2019, 37 schools participated in the program, with more than 1,200 trees planted.
The project took a backseat during the pandemic, but it is back. In March, 10 schools successfully applied to participate.
As a result, more than 200 native species trees were planted in local elementary and secondary schoolyards.
During the plantings, students also learned about UV protection and tree planting.
CK Public Health runs the Tomorrow’s Greener Schools program in partnership with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Area and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
