Welcome to our Third Annual Arbor Day Celebration! As a proud Tree Campus USA location, we take great pride in celebrating our trees and their numerous unpraised benefits. Due to COVID-19, our celebration has taken a virtual turn. On this webpage, some of our senior biology majors will share information and videos about the importance of trees, our campus ginkgo tree, and invasive species. Our Field Botany class has also joined forces with Walsh’s Museum Studies students to display local plant specimens and photographs in the Birk Center on campus. Keep reading to get to know a little bit about us and our wonderful community partners. If you visit Walsh University, keep an eye out for signs on trees explaining their economic value. Thank you for joining us and we hope you learned something!
Presented by Shelby Elder, Brent Mitchell, and Marissa Nero, Class of 2021 and the Walsh University Tree Advisory Committee, Co-Chairs, Dr. Jennifer Clevinger, Professor of Biology and Mr. John Schissler, Director of Facilities and Grounds
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By: Shelby Elder, Brent Mitchell and Marissa Nero |
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4 Invasive species in Ohio: winged burning bush, autumn olive, garlic mustard, and multiflora rose By Megan Soehnlen |
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Exploring Ohio and Pennsylvania Trees: black cherry, red and white oaks By Allison Brazer |
The Importance of Trees in Urban Areas
- Planting trees in urban areas allows for great biodiversity as they deliver habitat, food and shelter to animals along with other plants
- When planted strategically, trees can reduce carbon emissions as energy is saved by naturally shading buildings, reducing the need for air conditioning
- Trees act as a natural filter for the air absorbing pollutant gases and other fine particulates allowing for a higher quality of air to breathe
Tree Campus USA
- Five Upholding Qualifications: Arbor Day Celebration, Tree Care Plan, Service-Learning Projects, Campus Tree Program, Campus Advisory Committee
- Goals of committee: Promoting diversity and local species, pruning trees seasonally, engaging community, partnering with Tree City USA
- Initiative driven by professionals, community members, students, Walsh University faculty, and a representative from Division of Forestry
What is Arbor Day?
- Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.
- The first Arbor Day was set in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, by a man named J. Sterling Morton.
- Today many states celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday of April, however locally it may be celebrated at different times. We chose to coincide our celebration with traditional Homecoming events.
- The customary observance is to plant a tree. This year, we are planting a new American elm of the variety ‘Jefferson’.
Thank you to our community Arbor Day partners
In previous celebrations, we have welcomed community partners onto campus to share information with our students and the local community. Due to COVID-19, it has been canceled for 2020 but we would still like to recognize these partners and encourage you to visit their websites. We hope to have them back on campus for the 2021 celebration!