Programs

AQ "Tree of the Year" Competition >Link
The AQ “Tree of the Year” Competition celebrates the beauty and importance of our campus trees by inviting community members to share their favorites and reflect on why they matter. 

Plant Your Future: A Class Tree Planting >Link
Each year, incoming Aquinas students plant a Class Tree, contributing to our goal of bringing every native Michigan tree species to campus.

Hack-A-Thon: Hack Away at Invasive Species
This fall program empowers volunteers to remove invasive plants and restore native ecosystems on the AQ campus and Wilcox Park. Participants learn to identify invasive species, contribute to biodiversity, and make a meaningful environmental impact through hands-on efforts. Flexible involvement makes it easy for anyone to join and help improve local green spaces.

Explore Our Trees >Link
Our campus tree guide is available online! Discover a complete list of tree species on campus, learn about their history, and join us for guided tree tours to experience their beauty up close. Tour contact: leaftour@nbzhiai.com. 

Relax in the Trees >Link
For less than $5, rent a hammock through HammAQ and unwind in the peaceful campus woodlands. Be sure to check out our guidelines for safe hammocking, to assure you are respecting our trees while you relax. View guidelines

Goats

Aquinas College welcomed a herd of goats July 17-23, 2021 for sustainable lawn care management. > More information

Recognition

The “Tree Campus Higher Education” designation from the Arbor Day Foundation recognizes campuses with a broad commitment to promoting healthy trees and community engagement opportunities. There are five broad requirements of the designation including 1) Campus Tree Advisory Committee; 2) Campus Tree Care Plan; 3) Campus Tree Program with Dedicated Annual Expenditures; 4) Arbor Day Observance, and 5) Service Learning Project. Aquinas College is proud to be named a Tree Campus Higher Education since 2019. 

Leadership

Established in Spring 2019, the Campus Tree Advisory Committee (C-TAC) is charged with implementing the comprehensive campus tree care plan/Forest Management Plan, educating the campus population as to the benefits of the campus trees, engaging the community, and providing guidance for future forest planning. The members include: 

• Community- Brian Hiemstra
• Faculty- Dr. Briana Asmus, Dr. Rebecca Humphrey, Christina Radisauskas, and Dr. James Rasmussen
• Staff/Facilities: Jessica Eimer Bowen (co-chair), Michael DeBoer, and Ryan Wendt (co-chair)
• Students- Ian Clapp and Matthew Sloan

Guiding Documents: Campus Tree Care Plan/Forest Management Plans

Our campus woodlands will best serve our needs if it’s managed according to a clear plan. Our Campus Tree Care Plan establishes numerous parameters for managing our forest, as well as short-term and long-term goals. Thanks to funding from the State of Michigan, the C-TAC created a 10 year Forest Stewardship Plan for the campus in 2021. We are more than happy to share our plans with interested individuals. Please contact a co-chair of the C-TAC (Jessica Eimer Bowen- eimerjes@nbzhiai.com; 616.632.1994 or Ryan Wendt- wendtrya@nbzhiai.com; 616-632-2449). 

Goals:

• 2022: Install quote plaques in the forest
• 2022: Study of outdoor learning on campus
• 2023: Develop hammock guidelines
• 2023: Develop a policy for protecting ecologically desirable tree species
• 2025: Investigate the feasibility of new forest sculptures
• 2025: Improve pathways by incorporating “desire trails”
• Short Term (2020): 1) Update the tree marker system
• Mid-Term (2021-2024): 1) Manage our tree canopy such that the campus provides a home to every tree that is native to Michigan and is suited to our soil. 2) Develop annual celebrations of the trees. 3) Development of a Forest Management Plan, or similar document. 
• Long-Term (2025 and on): 1) Achieve greater age class diversification of the Aquinas forest; 2) Develop a policy to ensure the protection of ecologically desirable trees, including historic trees.
• Annual/On-Going Goals: 1) Manage tree health; 2) Plant trees to promote biological diversity, including native trees; 3) Selective tree removal to promote biological diversity and safety; 4) Manage invasive plant species; 5) Hold and consider developing new annual celebrations of the trees; 6) Promote usage of the tree map; 7) Pursue community mentoring partnerships; 8) Fundraising; 9) Maintain the Tree Campus Higher Education Designation with the Arbor Day Foundation.