A tree planting in recognition of JCC’s effort to earn the Tree Campus USA designation by the Arbor Day Foundation, will be held at 4:30 p.m. on April 22.
The event, held in conjunction with Earthfest, JCC’s annual Earth Day celebration, is being coordinated by the college’s sustainability committee and will include a proclamation by JCC President Gregory T. DeCinque. The public is invited to attend.
JCC began the Tree Campus USA application process for its Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses and North County Center several months ago. The Tree Campus USA program recognizes colleges and universities that effectively manage their campus trees and develop outreach through service learning opportunities and programs to foster healthy, urban forests in the broader community.
Five JCC honors students have been working on a tree inventory and management plan with Lori Brockelbank, a certified arborist at Forecon.
The public is also invited to other Earthfest activities, which include live music, educational displays, and ecofriendly goods from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the center of campus, near the pond, or in the Student Union in case of inclement weather.
Earthfest will also feature “Sustain 2009,” a webcast from SUNY Albany, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Lenna Teleconference Theatre in Hultquist Library. Alan Belensz of the state Department of Environmental Conservation Office of Climate Change is the keynote speaker.
Members of JCC’s Earth Awareness Club will conduct a tree seedling adoption, thanks to donations made by the Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District. Proceeds from the sale of organically grown, fairly traded products by the Earth Awareness Club will be donated to the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy and the Chautauqua County Humane Society.
JCC’s Earth Awareness Club promotes an increased understanding and appreciation of the natural world and its creatures, wise environmental stewardship, enhanced knowledge of important environmental issues, compassionate living, and local awareness and action. The club hopes that members of the JCC community, as well as members of the community at large, will join together in celebration of the Earth and learn more about how we can be better stewards of the beautiful wonders that nature provides.


