SUNY Cortland Celebrates Earth Week and Arbor Day

04/23/2019 

Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to celebrate Earth Week and Arbor Day.

SUNY Cortland students, faculty and staff will hold a series of events including a tree scavenger hunt, a tree planting and a guided campus tree walk.

And don’t forget about a lifesize cardboard cutout of President Erik J. Bitterbaum, which will also be posed next to trees for selfie opportunities.

Students will offer information, giveaways and raffles on behalf of the Cortland Speaks for the Trees initiative in Neubig Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. The volunteers also will be available at tables in the Student Life Center from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 25.

A tree scavenger hunt will allow students an opportunity to win prizes while learning about the wide variety of trees on campus. To participate, follow Cortland Speaks for the Trees on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Roving student interpreters will be present on campus throughout the week to talk about the Cortland Speaks for the Trees initiative.

A campus tree planting will take place at noon on Friday, April 26, near Bowers Hall. Student, faculty and staff volunteers are welcome to assist in the planting.

Steve Broyles, professor and chair of the Biological Sciences Department, will lead a campus tree walk starting at 2 p.m. on Friday from the Outdoor Pursuits office in the Student Life Center.

The SUNY Cortland Tree Walk website maps out the College’s urban forest and provides detailed information on each tree species. The forest contains more than 35 different species, each tagged with QR codes that may be scanned with a smartphone to access more information.

The College first earned Tree Campus USA status in 2014 and has maintained its membership through meeting the organization’s five standards. Tree Campus USA recognizes campuses that effectively manage campus trees, develop connectivity with the community beyond campus borders to foster healthy urban forests and strive to engage their student population using service learning opportunities centered on campus and community forestry efforts.