tree campus usa?

Photo Courtesy S.C.C.

Just sat down to write my weekly blog after a hard days work picking up and delivering over 150 trees. These trees came from the Missouri Project ReLeaf organization that is also tied in with Missouri Communitree and the Missouri Forest Keepers. The program is umbrellaed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. These trees are grown and sold at a reduced price for special reforestation projects and non-for-profit organizations. To learn more about the program, and/or volunteer for the organization, click here. I have not done any volunteer work for them in a long time, so spend some time with me next spring helping them with their planting!

Well if you have not heard yet, I would like to announce that St. Charles Community College is pursuing becoming a Certified Tree Campus USA through the Arbor Day Foundation. A Tree Advisory Committee has been established and working diligently to prepare us so that we meet the requirements of the certification and help raise awareness of the college urban forest and its importance as a resource for the community. I would personally like to thank Jennifer O'Malley, Assistant Professor of Biology, Students; Samantha Britton and Samantha Pace, Tracy Powers, Science Lab Coordinator, Mark Grueber, Urban Forester, and Perry Eckhardt, community citizen and Urban Forester. Without their dedication and ambition to be stewards of our urban forest and our learning environment for our students, this would never be possible. Thank you!

The committee has arranged a celebration event to kick off the program. The event is Friday, November 19, at 3:00 PM, rain, snow, or shine. We will be planting our first tree with the committee, have a Missouri Department of Conservation Urban Forester give a talk on tree care, and plant some trees, twenty in total, in various areas around the campus. Please feel free to join us in front of the Learning Resource Building! There will be Hot Cocoa and Coffee provided courtesy of the Plaza Bistro and Student Activities! We also expect some special guests as well! Come plant a tree with us!