Students have been planting trees on Arbor Day since 1872, when more than a million trees were planted in Nebraska for the first official celebration of trees.

Now add research, science and satellite imagery to the mix. That's what Cloquet students and staff did in advance of this year's Arbor Day plantings last Friday, with the goal of maximizing the chances the tiny seedlings will grow to big strong trees over the upcoming decades.

Cloquet High School teacher Matt Winbigler explained that they first sent students out into the school forest, 15 acres spread across the high school and middle s...