How a Community Initiative Turned 100 Tree Kits into a Living Forest
The Secaucus Rotary Club has always believed in service that creates lasting change. As part of Rotary International’s growing focus on environmental stewardship, the club set out to design a project that would educate, inspire, and give back to the planet.
Their idea was simple but powerful: give local students something they could grow themselves, while also contributing to reforestation where it is needed most.
That idea became a reality through a partnership with ForestNation.
The Challenge: Creating Impact That Starts Local and Reaches Glob
The Secaucus Rotary Club wanted to engage young students in a meaningful way. Not just by talking about sustainability, but by letting them experience it firsthand.
They asked themselves:
- How can we teach children about caring for the planet in a way they will remember?
- How can a local school initiative create real environmental impact?
- How do we make this easy to execute as a volunteer-led organization?
Rick Saltarelli, Executive Secretary of the Secaucus Rotary Club, began a conversation with Andrew Pothecary, ForestNation’s founder, to explore what was possible. Over time, that conversation grew into a shared vision for an initiative that would connect classrooms in New Jersey with reforestation efforts in Tanzania.
The Solution: 100 Tree Kits and 1,000 Trees Planted
Through ForestNation’s Tree Kit program, the Secaucus Rotary Club created an initiative that worked on two levels at once.
They ordered:
- 100 ForestNation Tree Kits for students at Clarendon Elementary School
- 10 matching trees planted for each kit, totaling 1,000 trees planted in Tanzania
Each student received a Tree Kit to plant and care for at home. At the same time, ForestNation planted ten trees on their behalf in the Usambara region of Tanzania, supporting ecosystem restoration and local livelihoods.
ForestNation also created a dedicated Rotary Club of Secaucus Forest Profile, allowing the club to track their impact and share the story with members, students, and families.
The long email exchange between Rick and Andrew ensured every detail was covered, from logistics and timing to how the kits would be presented to the students. Once approved, the process was smooth and efficient, allowing the club to focus on what mattered most: the kids.
The Results: From a School Assembly to a Global Forest
On June 3, the project came to life at Clarendon Elementary School.
Rotary members hosted a special presentation for the students, explaining why trees matter and how small actions can create big change. Each child received a Tree Kit, turning sustainability into something tangible and personal.
The impact extended far beyond the school:
- 1,000 trees planted in Tanzania, restoring land and supporting local communities
- Hands-on environmental education for elementary school students
- A project that brought Rotary’s environmental commitment to life in a visible, memorable way
Students went home excited to plant their seeds. Parents and teachers praised the initiative for combining learning with action. And the Rotary Club saw firsthand how a simple idea could grow into something much bigger.
Takeaway: Growing Change, One Seed at a Time
The Secaucus Rotary Club showed that you do not need to be a large organization to make a global impact. With the right partner and a clear purpose, a local initiative can create meaningful change for people and the planet.
By combining education, community engagement, and reforestation, they planted more than trees. They planted curiosity, responsibility, and hope in the next generation.
🌱 When young people learn that their actions matter, forests can grow anywhere.