CBC named a Tree Campus USA

In 2009, Columbia Basin College in Pasco was the first community college in Washington to receive recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA.

They've been recognized for their efforts to focus on trees and sustainability every year since then, and this year is no exception.

The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and for engaging staff and students in conservation goals. CBC achieved the title by meeting Tree Campus USA's five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, , a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for the campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and a student service-learning project.

"When we're building new facilities and thinking about locations for placement of trees, we try and do it in a strategic manner in which we're providing some shading for maybe some glazing on a building so that we can reduce that heating and cooling, if we can provide that natural shade then that's a win-win situation," said Troy Phillips, CBC's Director for Facilities and Capital Projects.

The school works with the Mid-Columbia Community Forestry Council to select trees that are known to thrive in the region.

Another tree-planting event is scheduled for Arbor Day in April 2020.