Kicking Off the Tree Campus USA Planting Tour
Beginning this Thursday, October 16th, the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with Toyota Motor North America, Inc. will kick off its Tree Campus USA Tree Planting Tour with the first celebration taking place at Northern Kentucky University.
Over 75 universities applied to be a part of this campaign and only 9 were selected to receive up to 100 trees each to plant on their campuses this fall. These universities and their coinciding tree planting event dates include:
· Northern Kentucky University – October 16
· Virginia Tech – October 21
· Oregon State University – October 23
· Jackson State University – October 28
· University of Texas at Austin – October 30
· Arizona State University – November 7
· University of Nebraska, Lincoln – November 12
· University of California, San Diego – November 12
· University of Michigan –TBA
The reason behind these celebrations is the Arbor Day Foundation’s announcement of its newest initiative, the Tree Campus USA program, which will recognize college campuses that are committed to planting, maintaining and celebrating trees.
“We are pleased to team up with Toyota and kick off the Tree Campus USA program by honoring Northern Kentucky University as a Tree Campus USA university and by holding nine tree-planting events across the country,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “This program will have a lasting impact because it will encourage students and local citizens to work together to create healthier communities for everyone to enjoy. It will also foster better tree-care practices, and will connect students and campus leaders with tree-care professionals in their community.”
Tree Campus USA recognizes the best practices in campus community forestry throughout America. The aim of the program is to honor college campuses and the leaders of their surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship.
Check back in the next weeks for updates, pictures, videos, and stories from the upcoming planting events. With more than 1000 trees being planted and hundreds of students and community volunteers involved, there are sure to be exciting things occurring!
