Celebrate Arbor Day at SUNY New Paltz with annual Tree Hike April 25

Starting at 5:15 p.m. on Friday, April 25, and in celebration of Arbor Day, the SUNY New Paltz Tree Committee invites you on a guided hike through campus trees. The hike will begin at the Coykendall Science Building Greenhouse. 

Serving as tour guides for this year’s walk are Associate Professor of Biology Eric Keeling and Biology Lecturer and Greenhouse Manager Laura Wyeth. Keeling and Wyeth will be leading  attendees on a hike to the SUNY New Paltz South Forest, a campus hidden gem of majestic trees.  Attendees are encouraged to bring their hiking or walking shoes to brave potentially muddy terrain. 

The Campus Tree Committee is a collective of students, faculty and staff, and community members, with membership representing all parts of campus. The Committee earned Tree Campus USA® recognition in 2024 from the Arbor Day Foundation.  

The Committee designed the Campus Tree Walk, an educational resource that consists of two marked trails and accompanying brochure that serves as a guide to 25 tree species and their benefits. This Hudson Valley One article shares more on the different tree varieties across campus.  

Additionally, SUNY New Paltz is growing another new tree with the help of NASA. The Artemis Moon Tree is currently budding outside Science Hall, emerging from seedlings directly transported by the Artemis 1 mission. Click here to learn more about the Moon Tree. 

Anyone interested in joining the Tree Committee should contact the Chair, Executive Director of Development Jonathan Vaughn at vaughnj@newpaltz.edu. 

Click here to learn more about the Office of Campus Sustainability.