NSU will celebrate Arbor Day with a tree planting ceremony, music and free food. The free community event, hosted by Green Sharks and Residential Life, will take place on April 22 at 4 p.m. next to the pagoda between The Commons and Leo Goodwin Residence Halls.
Green Sharks and the Office of Residential Life and Housing are partnering with Tree Campus USA and the Arbor Day Foundation to plant an exotic Floridian tree. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.
Green Sharks Public Relations Chair Cassilly Lobaugh, sophomore environmental studies major, said attendees will enjoy themselves while discussing the importance of celebrating Earth and the ways NSU can become a greener campus.
“This event is an important get-together where we will gather, share ideas and plant a beautiful tree that signifies this amazing day,” she said.
Last year, for the first time, NSU was accepted to Tree Campus USA, an association that recognizes and helps universities around the country establish and sustain a healthy campus.
To achieve this recognition, NSU had to meet five core standards for sustainable campus forestry. The standards include the establishment of a tree advisory committee, development of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.
Grounds Supervisor at NSU’s Facilities Management Jeffrey Heard said NSU is proud to be a part of this organization and is making the campus a greener and cleaner place.
“There were a lot of requirements NSU had to meet to be a part of this organization, and it’s exciting we were able to accomplish this goal,” he said.
For more information, contact Lobaugh at cl1221@nova.edu.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of nsunews.nova.edu
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