May 18 event to celebrate arboretum

Western Washington University will host its fourth “It’s Your Arboretum” day from noon to 3 p.m. on May 18 at the Outdoor Learning Center, located on the Huntoon Trail in the western part of the Sehome Arboretum adjoining Western’s campus. 

The event is free and open to the pubic.

“Our hope is that a greater awareness of Arboretum stewardship will help foster a more active community involvement in caring for this unique resource,” said David Engebretson, Western professor of Geology.

Engebretson said Western students Rowdy Malmo (General Studies, Lake Tapps), Samantha Merrick (Environmental Studies, Seattle) and Dylan Borden-Deal (Geology, Seattle) have done extensive volunteer work in the Arboretum, in preparation for the event.

Activities will include geologic, native plant and bird song identification tours at the request of attendees. A short history of the Arboretum and points of interest will be presented at 1 p.m. Other activities such as face painting and leaf prints will be on-going throughout the event.

“It’s Your Arboretum” day is sponsored by the Sehome Hill Arboretum Board of Governors and organized by students in Western’s Geology Department. Access to Sehome Arboretum and free parking is available on the upper and lower Arboretum parking lots on arboretum drive and in designated parking lots on Western’s campus.

For more information, contact Engebretson at (360) 650-3595 or David.Engebretson@wwu.edu.