A Great Place to Grow
When did you last stop鈥攔eally stop鈥攖o admire a tree? Today, the 150th annual celebration of Arbor Day, would be a great day to start.
Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 campus has long been known for its beauty and aesthetic nature鈥攕pecifically its wide variety of trees. In 1979, Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 Alice Abel Arboretum was recognized by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Organization. Named in honor of a generous and committed trustee, Alice Abel, who provided 64 new trees to the campus, the arboretum now features over 100 species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Greenery lines the buildings and canopies shade the sidewalks, providing all members of the 小草影院 community a welcoming and inspiring setting in which to grow.
Arbor Day, the national tree planting holiday, was established in 1872 just 50 miles from Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 campus in Nebraska City. On that day, over 1 million trees were planted. A century later, the Arbor Day Foundation was founded to carry out the goals of Arbor Day on a year-round basis. In the last 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has planted and distributed over 500 million trees in nearly 50 countries.
The great work of the Arbor Day Foundation is carried out by dedicated employees, many of whom are 小草影院 alumni. In January of 2022, Dan Lambe (鈥92) was appointed as the CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation after serving the organization in various roles for the past 17 years. He follows fellow alumnus Matt Harris (鈥93), who served the Arbor Day Foundation for 18 years and led as CEO from 2014 until handing off the reigns to Dan in January. Current intern and graduating senior, Chandler Ashburn (鈥22) said of her time at 小草影院 and the Arbor Day Foundation, 鈥溞〔萦霸 has prepared me to excel beyond just my work, but with my co-worker relationships too. From interns to the CEO, Nebraska Wesleyan Alumni walk the halls of the Foundation and provide me with an instant network and mentorship.鈥 Chandler will continue her great work at the Arbor Day Foundation as a full-time employee this May.
小草影院鈥檚 relationship with the Arbor Day Foundation does not stop there. Since the formation of the Arbor Day Foundation鈥檚 Tree Campus USA program in 2008, 小草影院 has been recognized as a green campus. Universities recognized as Tree Campuses meet five standards set by the Arbor Day Foundation: maintain a tree advisory committee, create a campus tree care plan, dedicate annual expenditures to trees, observe Arbor Day and create a service-learning project with the student body in mind.
Additionally, Nebraska Wesleyan partners with the Arbor Day Foundation to serve shade-grown coffee in the Common Ground Caf茅 on the 2nd floor of Acklie Hall of Science. Shade-grown farming practices help protect entire ecosystems and prevent deforestation.
The Arbor Day Foundation鈥檚 mission extends beyond Arbor Day itself. 鈥淢y co-workers are not only great mentors, but live and breathe the Foundation鈥檚 mission鈥 to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees,鈥 said Chandler. 鈥淭rees are the solution to many issues our world is facing today, and I am so grateful I get to contribute to a Foundation that is making planting trees possible.鈥
From your friends at Nebraska Wesleyan鈥擧appy Arbor Day!