St. Catherine’s Students Help Cool the City
In late May 2026, 77 ninth-grade students from St. Catherine’s School joined Southside ReLeaf and Cool the City for a day of hands-on environmental action in South Richmond. Students planted 13 new trees along Maury Street, cared for the raised beds at Blackwell Community Garden, and helped clean up litter around Blackwell Park — contributing directly to cooler, greener, and healthier neighborhood spaces.
The day was filled with energy, teamwork, and first-time experiences, as many students got their hands dirty planting trees for the very first time. These moments of experiential learning help connect young people to the environment while showing the power of community action.
We’re grateful to the students and staff at St. Catherine’s for investing their time and energy into building a cooler city.
A group of five students pose with the tree they just planted along Maury Street.
Students weed a raised garden bed full of produce at Blackwell Community Garden.
Students listen to instructions from Syd Collier of Southside ReLeaf before they start planting.
Two students demonstrate how to incorporate biochar into the soil using shovels while their peers watch and learn.
