The University Arboretum Board and the City of Reno have teamed up to host a tree-planting event to benefit the children at the Child and Family Research Center. The planting event is part of the annual Nevada Shade Tree Week and begins at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Nevada Early Intervention Services Early Head Start site at the north-end of campus.

The Child and Family Research Center is part of the University's College of Education and provides education and care to children between the ages of six weeks to six years old. The planting of additional trees for the children's playground is being made possible by a grant funded by the Urban and Community Forestry Program through the Nevada Division of Forestry. The event is part of an ongoing initiative for the University to become a Tree Campus USA.

"This student service project helps the University qualify to be certified as a Tree Campus USA in 2014," Cheryll Glotfelty, chair of the University's Arboretum Board, said. "Tree Campus USA is a recognition conferred by the National Arbor Day Foundation, honoring college and university campuses for establishing and sustaining healthy community forests along with promoting student involvement."

Students from the University chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity have volunteered to help plant the 12 trees at the event. The trees include Gala Apple trees, Northern Red Oak trees and Catalpa Umbrella trees, among other shaded varieties. These trees will not only provide shade and beauty for the playground, they will also provide the children the opportunity to learn and interact with nature.

"The diverse selections of trees were chosen to help educate the children," University Assistant Director of Grounds Services Marty Sillito said. "The trees that will be planted will produce fruits, interesting seeds, textured leaves and various colors. We also selected tree species that would grow quickly to provide shade to the playground area and provide a wind and snow break."

The children will be involved in taking care of the trees after they are planted. Studies from the University of Illinois show that time in natural settings helps reduce stress and improve the well-being of children. 

"This project is a win-win," Glotfelty said. "It provides shade and enrichment for the campus's youngest students while beautifying the newer, north-end of campus."

The University was designated as a state arboretum in 1985 by the Nevada Legislature. For more information about the arboretum board, visit www.unr.edu/arboretum/. For more information about Tree Campus USA, visit www.arborday.org/programs/treecampususa.