Arbor Day festivities on SE will include games, prizes, tree-related facts, free saplings and a cookout on the front lawn 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 27.
SE student development coordinator Frankie Ward has amassed a stockpile of gift baskets, certificates and prizes donated by area businesses to be given away during the event. In addition, Tree Campus USA will be present during the celebration.
SE was named 2011 Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation and recognized for its commitment to effective forestry management within the community.
SE Campus student activities director Doug Peak, who is a member of the SE USA Tree committee, will present tree-related facts during the event.
Peak said free food will be available for everyone who attends the Arbor Day celebration, and several hundred saplings provided by the city of Arlington will be given as prizes, he said.
Arbor Day guests can grab a burger, sip lemonade and enjoy tree-themed games such as bobbing for apples.
“We have the orange game to see how many oranges you can carry without dropping [them], and then we give facts about the oranges,” Peak said.
SE student development associate Natalie Gamble said games are usually tree-related.
“Everything’s educational,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Gamble said the event benefits students because they are getting outside, mingling and getting to know one another.
Peak said for him, student engagement is the best part of the celebration because Arbor Day is the one event during the year when the entire student body, faculty and staff come together to eat, enjoy the campus and get out and socialize.
“It is a nice reminder for students that this is their campus and together we care about its future,” Peak said. “It kind of makes for a great celebration.”
Prior to the event, a nature-themed sidewalk chalk competition will be held April 26. The art contest winners will be announced during the Arbor Day festivities.
First-place art competition winners will receive a $200 scholarship. Second- and third-place winners will receive $175 and $125 scholarships. TCC bookstore gift certificates also will be awarded, Gamble said.
SE student Dominique Spencer said he does not actually consider himself artistic but will practice his skills in preparation for the competition.
“I’ve seen nice chalk work before,” he said. “So I’m excited.”
Students who want to participate in the sidewalk chalk art competition can register in advance by contacting SE art instructor Kristina Elizondo at kristina.elizondo@tccd.edu.
