John Sedgwick Middle School in Port Orchard is now home to a unique piece of space history, a “Moon Tree.”

The Douglas fir seedling traveled 1.3 million miles through space as part of NASA’s Artemis I mission. The tree, now planted on the school’s grounds, represents decades of space exploration and the exciting future of human space travel, participants said.

Moon Trees have a storied history that began with NASA’s Apollo 14 mission in 1971, when astronaut Stuart Roosa took tree seeds to the moon. The seeds were later planted across the United States as symbols of exploration and progress. Today, a new batch of seeds has been grown into trees following a journey aboard the Orion spacecraft in 2022. John Sedgwick Middle School was one of the few schools chosen nationwide to receive one of the trees.

Science teacher Pete Darragh, who led the effort to bring the Moon Tree to Sedgwick, explained the significance. “The Moon Tree connects our students and community to the spirit of exploration and the courage it takes to venture beyond,” he said. Darragh applied to become a “Moon Tree Steward” with NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year and recently received confirmation of Sedgwick’s selection.

The school’s administration and facilities team worked with Darragh to prepare a special area on campus for the tree. The coastal Doug fir, currently 34 inches tall, will be cared for by students, who plan to measure and document its growth over time, creating a living record of its journey.

Students have expressed excitement about the project. “I feel filled with pride for Sedgwick. Having something so important at our school is a huge feat!” said Eleanor Richmond, an eighth-grader.

Another student, Alyssa Kusherets, shared her enthusiasm: “It feels absolutely amazing to know that I was a part of something only a few kids got to experience. I love space and am so happy to learn about the Artemis mission and Moon Trees.”

Darragh, a lifelong space enthusiast who has visited NASA facilities and even borrowed lunar rock samples for school events, hopes the Moon Tree will inspire generations of students. “I hope it will serve as a reminder and inspiration,” he said. “In the future, as the Artemis program continues, I hope they will remember the tree or see it, and it makes a real connection for them.”

The fir will be cared for by the students who will measure and document its growth over time.