Forty-eight National Honor Society from Richards Middle School in Fraser, Michigan near Detroit visited Leelanau County and brought a check for $1,000 with them to help preserve farmland here. On Monday, May 17, 2006, the group toured farmland and hiked at two Leelanau Conservancy Natural Areas.

The student advisor at the school, Janet Nicola, owns land in Suttons Bay. She plans to retire here and is a member of the Leelanau Conservancy. She worked with the Conservancy to plan the trip and to obtain information and materials for the students to work with.

Honor Society president Erin Cardwell said, “When we heard about what the Leelanau Conservancy was trying to do we decided to make it our annual fundraiser.”

To raise the money, the students sold sequin-studded paper cherry trees other students could buy for $1. All the trees were then mounted on a banner about farmland preservation that hung in the school cafeteria all winter. The kids also made a commercial with two students dressed as trees, dancing to the Beatles tune, “Don’t Let Me Down.” They created brochures from photos and publications, which they posted all over the school. “The kids came up with all the ideas, set a goal of $1,000, and met it,” says Nicola. “I really wanted them to see the beauty of this area and to understand it. Most of them—probably three quarters—have never been here before.”

After seeing all the cherry trees in peak bloom this week on the tour, Nicola says “they’re so happy that their hard work is helping to preserve this beautiful place.”