Twenty-four trees have been planted on the main campus of Lehigh Carbon Community College as part of an arboretum project funded by the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor through the Lehigh Valley Greenways Grant Program under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“This grant allows our college, during its 55th anniversary year, to celebrate the rich, natural history of our beautiful Schnecksville campus, while continuing to provide learning opportunities for our students and the community for years to come,” said LCCC President Dr. Ann D. Bieber.

Phase 1 of planting was completed in early December with trees planted on the southwest side of the Schnecksville campus in the vicinity of Rothrock Library and Berrier Hall.

The arboretum is a continuation of a vision to create a micro-ecosystem on campus, building on the new pollinator gardens, meadow garden and outdoor classrooms.

The Schnecksville campus occupies acreage bordering the Trexler Nature Preserve on land that was formerly orchards. The conservation projects on campus demonstrate best practices in land management and ensure the viability of the campus micro-ecosystem for future generations.

Among the 24 species of climate-change resistant trees planted are oak, maple, redbud, sycamore, cherry, aspen, pine and gum.

The Greenways grant builds on the efforts of students in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society who completed an inventory of trees on the Schnecksville campus.

The arboretum will serve as a catalyst for additional educational components and demonstrates the collaboration among students in biology, the STEM student club, Sustainability Committee, PTK and the college’s board of trustees. In addition, resources such as pre-K and elementary school lessons will be available for the community to learn more about the benefits of trees and their importance to the quality of life.

LCCC students will develop an interactive resource to guide people walking through the arboretum, including QR codes about trees with species information. In a later phase, an accessible walkway will wind its way through the area.

Additional activities are planned for the spring 2022, including Earth Day celebration, labeling of trees and planning for the next phase to further enhance the arboretum and its impact on the community.

Lehigh Valley Greenways mini-grants assist non-profits, municipalities and educational institutions to accomplish a variety of projects to benefit residents of the Lehigh Valley.