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Boise, ID -- 04/22/2025 -- On Earth Day, April 22, 2025, Adams Elementary School students and staff experienced a truly out-of-this-world moment—planting a NASA Moon Tree with former astronaut Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space, right on their school grounds.
The entire K-6 student body gathered to witness the planting of a giant sequoia sapling grown from a seed that traveled 268,563 miles from Earth, orbiting the Moon aboard the Artemis I Mission in 2022. This remarkable tree is part of NASA’s Moon Tree program, a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service that distributes space-flown seeds to inspire future generations with a living connection to exploration, science, and stewardship.
Four kindergarten students helped place the tree in the ground, while Dr. Ochoa—dressed in her official NASA flight jacket—joined in by shoveling dirt to complete the planting. She also answered student-submitted questions like, “What does it feel like flying in zero gravity?” and “How hard is it to become an astronaut?”
The event was made possible thanks to the leadership of 5th grade teacher and Green Team Lead Andrea Koenig and Adams parent Sara Wilson, who works for the U.S. Forest Service. Together, they submitted the successful application to receive a Moon Tree—one of just a handful distributed nationwide from this second generation of space-flown seeds.
Adams Principal Joshua Hackenberg addressed the crowd before the planting, sharing the inspiring history of Artemis I and Dr. Ochoa’s trailblazing legacy. Dr. Ochoa flew on four shuttle missions and later led NASA’s Johnson Space Center, having also invented three patented optical systems and written bilingual children’s books encouraging young learners to dream big.
"Dr. Ochoa is a shining example of our learner powers in action—persistence, curiosity, innovation, optimism, and courage," said Principal Hackenberg. "When our students look at this tree, we want them to be reminded that their potential is just as limitless."
This tree planting is just one of many Earth Day activities happening today across Boise School District schools, as students explore sustainability, science, and stewardship in ways that connect classroom learning to the world around them. At Adams Elementary, these efforts are supported by the school’s outdoor learning space—made possible thanks to the generous support of the Adams PTO.
Boise School District is proud to now host two historic Moon Trees. In addition to Adams Elementary’s new addition, Lowell Elementary School is home to a loblolly pine planted in 1977, grown from seeds that flew aboard the Apollo 14 mission. At the time, Idaho Governor John Evans’ son was a student at Lowell, adding local significance to a national moment in space history.
With roots on Earth and branches reaching for the stars, the Moon Trees at Adams and Lowell are living legacies of exploration, perseverance, and possibility for all Boise students.
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