WMBD/WYZZ TV - MACKINAW -- From the classroom to the great outdoors, a group of third graders learn the important lesson of nurturing nature.

Students from Dee-Mack Primary School have been growing Corkscrew Willow trees for about three weeks in their classrooms. Now they're their little seedlings outdoors to flourish. The goal of this is to help Mackinaw maintain it's Tree City U.S.A. designation, as it has for the past eight years.

Tazewell County Board member, John Ackerman helped organize the tree planting event and says, "We thought it would be nice if the students understand what Mackinaw does as a Tree City U.S.A. and the fact that they do care about their trees and about making the community greener place. Beyond that maybe it'll spark some interest in agriculture and horticulture."

These trees will soon be available for sale to the general public from the Garden Gate Floral in Mackinaw. All proceeds will be donated to keep up Mackinaw's Tree City U.S.A. effort.