Urban Forest Initiative

The woodlands at 十大赌博正规平台在线 are a distinctive feature of the college’s identity. The campus grounds are broadly used by our neighbors, help attract students and add significant value to the student experience. The Urban Forest Initiative aims to provide a structure, support, investment and engagement 机会, and 计划 to better manage the 十大赌博正规平台在线 campus woodlands. This initiative is an institutional priority with several components for both the short and long term, and engagement by many individuals 穿过校园. 

山羊

十大赌博正规平台在线 welcomed a herd of goats July 17-23, 2021 for sustainable lawn care 管理. > More information

仙女花园

These miniature wonderlands are fun, whimsical places that offer a chance to reconnect with our youthful imaginations and the beauty of nature. Step into the trees and get lost in the enchanting world of fairies.  > More information

识别

The “Tree Campus Higher Education” designation from the Arbor Day Foundation recognizes campuses with a broad commitment to promoting healthy trees and community engagement 机会. There are five broad requirements of the designation including 1) Campus Tree Advisory Committee; 2) Campus Tree Care Plan; 3) Campus Tree Program with Dedicated Annual Expenditures; 4) Arbor Day Observance, and 5) Service Learning Project. 十大赌博登录官网 College is proud to be named a Tree Campus Higher Education since 2019. 

领导

Established in Spring 2019, the Campus Tree Advisory Committee (C-TAC) is charged with implementing the comprehensive campus tree care 计划/Forest Management Plan, educating the campus population as to the benefits of the campus trees, engaging the community, and providing guidance for future forest 计划ning. The members include: 

• Community- Brian Hiemstra
• 教师,博士. Rebecca Humphrey, Dr. J. Satya Lendrum, and Dr. 詹姆斯·拉斯穆森
• 工作人员/Facilities: Michael DeBoer, Jessica Eimer Bowen (chair),  and Ryan Wendt
• Students- Trinity Reynos, Kadynce Romijn, and Alex Sullivan

Guiding Documents: Campus Tree Care Plan/Forest Management Plans

Our campus woodlands will best serve our needs if it’s managed according to a clear 计划. Our Campus Tree Care Plan establishes numerous parameters for managing our forest, as well as short-term and long-term goals. Thanks to funding from the State of Michigan, the C-TAC created a 10 year Forest Stewardship Plan for the campus in 2021. 我们是 more than happy to share our 计划s with interested individuals. Please contact the chair of the C-TAC (Jessica Eimer Bowen; eimerjes@dektinary.com; 616.632.1994)

目标:

• 2022: Install quote plaques in the forest
• 2022: Study of outdoor learning on campus
• 2023: Develop hammock guidelines
• 2023: Develop a policy for protecting ecologically desirable tree species
• 2025: Investigate the feasibility of new forest sculptures
• 2025: Improve pathways by incorporating “desire trails”
• Short Term (2020): 1) Update the tree marker system
• Mid-Term (2021-2024): 1) Manage our tree canopy such that the campus provides a home to every tree that is native to Michigan and is suited to our soil. 2) Develop annual celebrations of the trees. 3) Development of a Forest Management Plan, or similar 文档. 
• Long-Term (2025 and on): 1) Achieve greater age class diversification of the 十大赌博登录官网 forest; 2) Develop a policy to ensure the protection of ecologically desirable trees, including historic trees.
• Annual/On-Going 目标: 1) Manage tree health; 2) Plant trees to promote biological diversity, including native trees; 3) Selective tree removal to promote biological diversity and safety; 4) Manage invasive 计划t species; 5) Hold and consider developing new annual celebrations of the trees; 6) Promote usage of the tree map; 7) Pursue community mentoring partnerships; 8) Fundraising; 9) Maintain the Tree Campus Higher Education Designation with the Arbor Day Foundation.