Last modified: Thursday, April 5, 2012
Volunteers invited to help plant 80 trees Friday on IU Bloomington campus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Bloomington students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to assist in the planting of 80 trees on campus on Friday, April 6.
The event, organized by Campus Division, aims to replace some of the trees lost to storm damage last year and take a step closer to the Campus Master Plan's goal of doubling the tree canopy.
The trees will be planted on the north side of the Student Recreational Sports Center. Volunteers should come to the terrace on the north side of the center at 10 a.m. Gloves and other necessary tools will be provided.
The tree planting celebrates IU Bloomington's selection by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA in honor of its commitment to effective community forestry management. This is the fourth year the campus has received the designation.
"At the last mass tree planting in Dunn Meadow, the consensus among participants I spoke to was that they truly enjoyed working together to give something back to the campus that would live on and benefit many generations to come," said Director of Sustainability Bill Brown. "That's a great example of campus sustainability in action."
Previous events have enlisted campus volunteers in planting trees in the new campus arboretum just south of the DeVault Alumni Center and in Dunn Meadow.
"The simple act of planting trees on the IU Bloomington campus is something that every student should participate in at least once in their college career," said Burney Fischer, clinical professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. "It gives one a long-term connection to the 'Woodland Campus' and a memory when you return as an alumnus."
IU Bloomington was named a Tree Campus USA for meeting the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry: a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.
Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. Tree Campus USA is supported by a grant from Toyota.
Volunteers who wish to participate in Friday's tree planting may register online. Questions can be directed to sustain@indiana.edu.
