Gwinnett Daily Post

Benefield Elementary School students on Friday were the recipients of a cherry bark oak sapling for their outdoor classroom. Representatives with the Clean Air Campaign donated the tree in honor of the school's commitment to the organization's program.

LAWRENCEVILLE -- An outdoor classroom at Benefield Elementary got a little greener Friday after volunteers and students planted a cherry bark oak sapling in the designated learning area outside the school.

Representatives of the Clean Air Campaign provided the gift in honor of the school's commitment to the organization's program.

Joey Giunta, Clean Air Schools Partnerships Manager, said it was an effort to "take the lessons they're learning in class and apply it to the real world."

According to a news release from the organization, the Clean Air Campaign's Clean Air Schools program offers "fun, engaging air quality and traffic reduction programs that are aimed to deliver measurable results."

He said Friday's event was a success.

"They came out and thanked us," Giunta said. "We planted the tree, and after that, the students did some more work in their outdoor classroom."

The Clean Air Campaign has helped more than 300 schools in Georgia create safer and healthier campuses.

The free program offers pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools learning projects to reduce air pollution and traffic and to educate students on sustainability, air quality and transportation.

Last year, the Clean Air Campaign selected Gwinnett County Public Schools as the "most outstanding school district."

For more information, visit www.cleanaircampaign.org.