But take a few moments to visit with Mr. Jim Chorman’s BOCES Horticulture classes and it is evident that these students are excited about learning.

Students mill around their classroom workshop, complete with an indoor goldfish pond, supply cooler, greenhouse and garage facility. While some students work on holiday orders, others tend to customers at the onsite store, replenish supplies, check on the greenhouse plants and step in to assist where needed. At this time of year, students concentrate on making wreaths, swags, kissing balls, holiday center pieces and caring for poinsettias.

On top of running all aspects of the store, participating in classroom lectures, studying and caring for plants and learning how to use equipment, these two classes coordinated a tree entry for the Saratoga Festival of Trees.

“I’ve had my classes participate in the Festival of Trees fundraiser for the past 11 years,” says Chorman, “Ten out of the 11 years, we have placed in some sort of category for the décor contest.”

This year, the classes’ tree entry was awarded “The Best Use of Color” ribbon by the 2007 Festival’s Judging committee. 

“I was pleasantly surprised we were recognized for Best Use of Color,” Gwinna Van Dyk, a junior at Saratoga Springs High School, said. “I think both classes were happy to receive the award for our efforts.”

The concept for this year’s tree entry, titled Support the World One Tree at a Time, was a lesson in effective brainstorming and collaboration between the two classes. In an era where electronics tend to dominate teenage communication, these two classes communicated with each other using chalk. The two classes “discussed” tree themes by deleting and adding different ideas until one theme remained.

According to Derek Briner, a senior at Corinth High School, “Support the World One Tree at a Time was an original theme from the very beginning, but by the end of the brainstorm, the classes had embellished the theme, extending three little trees out from the main tree.”

The class got to work creating a list of organizations and making phone calls asking for donated materials to decorate their themed trees. The support rolled in from organizations such as:

• To Life! Breast Cancer Education and Support

• Operation Adopt a Soldier

• American Cancer Society

• Paws N’ Claws

• Ballston Spa Veterinary Clinic

• Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis (Services of Saratoga County)

• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

• American Red Cross

• Upstate Animal Medical Center

• Make-A-Wish Foundation

• American Cancer Society

• WSWHE BOCES Horticulture Class

Chorman believes by participating in the Festival of Trees another avenue for learning soft skills opens up for his students.

“The tree is completely facilitated by the students,” Chorman said., “From start to finish, they have to work as a large team, producing a project that will be on display to the public. Natural leaders emerge, delegation happens, challenges arise – they have to figure it all out and submit their project on time.”

By supporting the Festival of Trees, and through it all the programs of Catholic Charities, the Horticulture class had an opportunity to make an impact and touch the lives of many. 

The Saratoga Festival of Trees is an annual fundraiser benefiting Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties held during the last week of November each year. Donations are accepted all year long. For more information or to volunteer in the 2008 Saratoga Festival of Trees, please call Catholic Charities at 518-587-5000 or log onto www.saratogafestivaloftrees.com.