91²Ö¿â at Salem again received the Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation, which recognizes its efforts to promote forest management, horticulture studies and conservation. The campus will celebrate this recognition during its Earth Day observances on Thurs., April 26, beginning at 10 a.m. on campus.
To receive this distinction, 91²Ö¿â Salem had to meet the Tree Campus USA’s five standards, providing detailed documentation for each standard. These include maintaining a tree advisory committee; having a campus tree-care plan; dedicating annual expenditures for its campus tree program; holding an Arbor Day observance; and leading a student service-learning project.
The Horticulture Club is planning a full slate of free activities to celebrate Earth Day, including a series of demonstrations and displays, tree planting and raffles for hanging baskets and a tool bucket filled with items to help get ready for planting. The public is invited to all activities.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Horticulture Department will hold a plant sale in the student lounge area.
Featured speakers and presenters include Anna Detoro of Davey Institute and a graduate of the 91²Ö¿â Salem horticulture program at 10:15 a.m.; Paul Snyder of the Ohio State University’s Seacrest Arboretum at 11:15 a.m.; Chris Carlson, associate professor of horticulture, will conduct a tree-climbing demonstration at 12:15 p.m.; and Dr. Tyre Proffer, professor of biological sciences, speak about extraction of essential oils at 1 p.m.
A tree-planting ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in recognition of the Tree Campus USA distinction.
The Salem campus is home to 91²Ö¿â’s horticulture program, where students can earn associate degrees in three concentration areas (urban forestry, landscape design and turfgrass management) or a bachelor of applied horticulture.
On-campus facilities include a greenhouse, an arboretum, nurseries, nature trails, plant research demonstration plots and theme gardens.