Today is Arbor Day. It’s the ideal day to share what Heidelberg’s Alliance for Sustainability (AFS) has been up to lately, and it has everything to do with trees.
AFS is spearheading a campus service project to identify and place educational plaques at trees around campus. Maddie Brillhart and Liv Matthews, currently the co-presidents of AFS, are quick to credit the genesis of the project to senior Kelly Peterson, the group’s former president, and the collaborative efforts of the Heidelberg Campus Tree Committee. All three students are Environmental Science and Sustainability majors.
“We were looking for some more interactive things on campus,” Liv said. AFS advisor Dr. Doug Kane added that AFS sought a project that would support the Campus Tree Committee as well. “Student service projects are one of the activities that count toward our yearly report that allow us to remain an Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus,” he said.
Kelly has been involved in Heidelberg being named an Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus, so this project was a natural extension of that engagement. This summer, plaques will be placed at the base of more than 20 trees. The plaques will display a QR code that will lead to information about that particular tree species, Maddie explained.
Gathering information about the trees was a collaborative effort. Doug said that various student groups were given a template to fill in, based on research about their assigned tree. He estimates that several dozen woody species of plants can be found on campus, including trees and shrubs.
The overarching goal of the tree plaque project, according to Maddie, is awareness. “We hope everyone will become more situationally aware of the nature we have on campus,” she said.
AFS is also collaborating with Heidelberg’s Center for Survivor Empowerment to plant a tree on campus on Arbor Day this Friday.
The tree plaque project is a great reminder of the value of trees that is sometimes taken for granted, Liv said. “Overall, they filter the air and give us more oxygen.” Maddie added, “The shade saves us money on air conditioning and boosts morale. They’re great for mental health. Humans want to be around nature, whether they know it or not.”
“Plus, they’re just really pretty,” said Liv.
A group comprised of Professor Emeritus of Biology Dr. Ken Baker, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Engineering Rod Morrison and Assistant Professors of Biology Dr. Noel Mano and Doug identified a diverse set of trees where the informational plaques will be placed.
A couple of favorites, according to Maddie and Liv, are the Ginkgo tree in front of Adams Hall and a Buckeye tree behind the Honors Center.
This summer, look for a neatly identified tree and learn about its unique characteristics, thanks to AFS and the Campus Tree Committee.