Kent State Salem Again Named Tree Campus USA

Kent Salem Repeats as Tree Campus USA; Events planned

Salem – Kent State University 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 23, beginning at 10 a.m. on campus.

To receive this distinction, Kent State 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.

“We are quite proud of this distinction because we work hard to maintain each of the required standards,” noted Dr. Steve Nameth, dean of Kent State’s Columbiana County campuses. “A quick look at our beautiful campus is proof that we are committed to teaching and perpetuating urban forestry and horticulture sciences. This recognition helps shine the spotlight on our beautiful campus and on the staff and students who work so hard to make this such a high-quality program.”

The Horticulture Club is planning a full slate of free activities to celebrate Earth Day, including a series of demonstrations and displays, a plant sale, tree planting, hot dog lunch and raffles. The public is invited to all activities.

Participating vendors include Davey Tree; Goodness Grows of North Lima; and Peace Valley Orchards of Rogers. There will be demonstrations on tree climbing, identifying trees by smell, pallet gardening and more.

Dan Simmons Jr., of Peace Valley Orchards, will give a special presentation on growing edible fruit in Northeast Ohio, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Lecture Hall.

The Horticulture Club is selling tickets for a chance to win a gardening bucket filled with items, hanging baskets and a pallet garden.

The Salem campus is home to Kent State University’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 the Discovery Garden. 

POSTED: Monday, April 13, 2015 01:28 PM
Updated: Thursday, December 8, 2022 12:19 PM