Fourth-graders from around the Hannibal school district learned how to plant a tree Friday as part of the Arbor Day celebration.

The Hannibal Tree Board and Hannibal Parks & Recreation planted a swamp white oak tree at Nipper Park on the newly-renovated riverfront. Missouri Department of Conservation forester Kyle Monroe told the fourth-graders that the tree would grow to be about 55 to 70 feet tall.

MDC forester David Vance explained the history of Arbor Day and said that across the nation Arbor Day is celebrated during different parts of the year based on the optimal time to plant a tree, National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in April.

Tree Board President Kristy Trevathan said that not only trees provide oxygen for us to breathe, but they help to clean the air we breathe. She encouraged the students to plant trees in their back yards and be careful about harming trees wherever they are.

The city of Hannibal was named a Tree City USA for the 22nd year.