By Sarah Burton
Today, on April 22nd, Houghton College is hosting their annual Arbor Day Community Festival, dedicated to educating one another on creation care and celebrating the natural environment. According to plantwithapurpose.org, Arbor Day is a day of observance of planting trees and it is upheld in many countries worldwide.At the Arbor Day Community Festival, though, attendees can find more than planting trees and expanding the orchard, according to Brian Webb, who is the Head of the Center of Sustainability and the Eco Reps program. He notes that the festival is meant to “get our community outside doing service projects around campus” with a “focus on prepping the garden and cleaning up after winter.” Students and other community members can give back to their campus by participating in these events as well as learning about taking care of the environment throughout the entirety of the day.
Other events include an outdoor picnic dinner, live music, and creation care education displays, which will be located in the Quad area of campus, weather permitting. When asked about the Arbor Day Community Festival, Mary Chichester (‘22), a member of the Eco Reps program, stated, “[Arbor Day] is a day of work as a means of expressing our love for the Earth. It is a chance for us to come together as a community to enjoy the holiday and to celebrate.” During the festival, Chichester can be found operating the Eco Reps table, helping others learn about sustainability globally and locally.
Arbor Day is more than just a day to plant trees; it can bring together a community of people to learn and serve together. The Arbor Day Community Festival is one way in which you can learn more about sustainability, have fun with friends, and experience new ways to serve.★
