Manning Early Childhood Center (MECC) students gathered in their school garden on Feb. 27 to plant a piece of space history, an official NASA Moon Tree. The sweet gum seedling, which traveled over 43,000 miles beyond the moon aboard the Artemis I mission, was secured through a rigorous application process led by MECC garden volunteer Marie Land and her granddaughter, Bitsy Land.
“This isn’t just any tree. It’s a symbol of possibility, of dreaming big,” Land said.
The tree is part of a long-standing NASA tradition that began with Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa, who carried tree seeds into lunar orbit in 1971. In a continuation of that legacy, five species of tree seeds traveled around the moon aboard Artemis I before being distributed to select educational institutions. MECC was one of only 50 organizations nationwide chosen to receive a seedling.
“We’ve worked hard to make this garden a place of learning, not just about plants, but about science, nature, and now even space,” Land said.
The Moon Tree will serve as a living science lesson for students, tying together agriculture, STEM education, and space exploration. The planting ceremony marks the beginning of a year-long curriculum that will include lessons on the Artemis program, hands-on gardening activities, and a student-led model rocket launch.
Land and MECC staff have planned additional projects to complement the tree, including a music lesson about the moon and art classes painting slats for the garden fence. “We’ve got so much planned to make this tree a centerpiece of learning for the students,” she said.
The Moon Tree will continue to be a focal point in MECC’s outdoor classroom, reinforcing the idea that even the smallest seeds—whether in the ground or in young minds—can grow into something remarkable.
