News • April 01, 2019

Hundreds of volunteers participate in Spring Arbor Day

Hundreds of volunteers participate in Spring Arbor Day

Riverside, Calif. (April 1, 2019) – More than 200 students, faculty and staff participated in Spring Arbor Day at California Baptist University on March 30. Volunteers planted nine Cork Oak trees and three Poly Oak trees around the parking lots in front of the Eugene and Billie Yeager Center in addition to cleaning up areas around Diana Avenue and Monroe Street. 

Dr. Bonjun Koo, professor of environmental science and advisor of the Environmental Science Club at CBU, has helped coordinate the event with Facilities and Planning Services over the past few years.

“I want to make our students recognize the importance of our environment, especially by planting trees,” Koo said.  “It is really important to educate students and let them know of the importance of taking care of our environment.”

Hundreds of volunteers participate in Spring Arbor DayElizabeth Lacatus, a liberal studies senior, said she looks forward to watching the tree she planted grow.

“We put in a lot of hard work into planting the trees and we look forward to seeing them grow,” Lacatus said. “It is the same thing in our relationship with God. We put in a lot of work and at times it feels hard but then we grow in our relationship with God and we get to see fruit.”   

Laura Pate, a liberal studies senior, noted the cultivating analogies used in the Bible to describe the Christian walk.

“You have to be planted in good soil in life to grow and the same is true with planting trees. Today, we had to make sure the trees were planted properly with the right amount of soil so the tree could survive,” Pate said.

Monica Velasco, an environmental science junior, enjoyed thinking about the shade the trees would bring during the hot summer days.  

“I like how we are planting trees in the parking lots since there will be more shade, so my car won’t get that hot,” Velasco said.   

Earlier this year, CBU earned a 2018 Tree Campus USA recognition. To obtain this distinction, CBU met the five core standards for sustainable campus forestry required by Tree Campus USA. The requirements comprise establishment of a tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service-learning projects.

Contact CBU Marketing and Communication

Vice President for Marketing and Communication:
Angela Meluski
Email: ameluski@calbaptist.edu

8432 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504