LEWISTON, Idaho – For the second straight year, Lewis-Clark State College has been recognized as a Tree Campus Higher Education institution by the Arbor Day Foundation.
The award, which was changed from Tree Campus USA this year to Tree Campus Higher Education, is a recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for LC State’s commitment to effective urban forest management.
The award is a national program created in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. LC State achieved the award by meeting Tree Campus Higher Education’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and student service-learning project.
A total of 392 campuses across the United States were honored. LC State is the only four-year institution in Idaho to be honored.
LC State received its first Tree Campus honor a year ago when it was the first higher education institution in the state to earn both Tree Campus and Arbnet Accreditation honors.
The honor comes a decade after college officials held their initial meeting of the Arboretum Committee. The 13-member committee includes faculty, staff, students and community members. The committee provides guidance for future planning, input on a comprehensive campus tree plan, education of the campus community about the benefits of trees, and development of a community connection related to the campus and community trees. The college’s Physical Plant is responsible for the care of the campus trees.
The Arboretum Committee has created a self-guided tree tour that highlights trees or tree groupings throughout campus. Information on the tree tour and a self-guided brochure can be found on the committee’s website.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization with the goal of making the world greener and healthier through the planting of trees.