When Emporia State students spread out across campus next week to plant trees, they will celebrate both Arbor Day and the university’s fifth annual Tree Campus USA® recognition.
The annual Arbor Day event, which began on campus in 2012, begins in Union Square on Friday, April 27 from noon to 1 p.m. with a chance for those who didn’t pre-register to sign up. Then, from 1 to 2 p.m. volunteers will spread out across campus and plant trees under the watchful eyes — and helpful hands — of University Facilities staff.
The university’s inaugural Arbor Day event helped it earn its first Tree Campus USA® recognition for 2013. This year, ESU earned 2017 Tree Campus USA® recognition. One key to earning that recognition was Save the Bees service learning project organized by Community Hornets, according to Blythe Eddy, director of student activities and community service.
That event included an observation hive, giving away honey and an activity to save the bees. During the Arbor Day 2018 event, volunteers will plant mostly maple trees along with some fruit and nut trees in the orchard near Campus Woods on the north side of campus. Eddy said volunteers also will put up mason bee houses near the orchard to encourage bees to make their home near the orchard and encourage plant pollination.
Tree Campus USA, an Arbor Day Foundation program, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals.
Emporia State University achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project. Currently there are 344 campuses across the United States with this recognition.