Ten students from Ozone House and the Environmental Club dug in with Assistant Professor of History Andrew Morris and members of the community on Arbor Day to plant 22 trees on Keyes and Lexington avenues as part of the ReTree Schenectady program.
Despite some very rainy weather, the event, which takes place once in the spring and once in the fall, was well attended.
“It was truly rewarding to hear how grateful members of the community were that Union students were out there, in the rain, helping to ReTree Schenectady,” said Ozone House member Nathali Neal '07, who coordinated Union's participation with ReTree directors.
Since its founding in 1991, the program has planted more than 3,000 trees and maintained many others. In 2005, Schenectady was awarded Tree City USA status by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
“I think it's a really nice way for students to get out and see Schenectady's neighborhoods,” says Morris, “to meet some people who live nearby and to contribute something quite tangible to the city and its environment.”
Betsy Henry, who runs Re-Tree Schenectady, said she was thrilled by the students' energetic participation. “Union College Environmental Club students have been volunteering with ReTree Schenectady since 2004. They do great work,” Henry said.