ROSEBURG, Oregon – The Forestry Club at Umpqua Community College (UCC) is making things better for the campus community… one step and one wheelbarrow at a time. As part of a campus community project, the group of students recently embarked on a project to improve the walking trail by the campus arboretum, which is up by the water tower.

The Lee O. Hunt Arboretum has been around since the early 1980s. Club members recently decided it was time for some renovations. On this particular day, UCC student and Forestry Club member Ethan Harris (pictured above left) and Forestry program instructor Mark Buckbee (pictured above right) were among those working on the trail improvement project.

The goal is to have a quarter-mile bark trail surrounded by different types of trees for students to study and test their knowledge. Alongside these trees will be educational signs with information about the trees, such as the common name, the Latin name, and facts. A soil sampling area is also being added, giving students the opportunity to observe the differing layers, parent material, clay content, and more.

While these upgrades can be beneficial for forestry education programs, the area can also become a nice place for students and faculty to enjoy lunch or take a walk.

Another structure we want on the trail is a bench at the overlook mid trail,” Wade Christensen, UCC student and Forestry Club president, said. “It has a beautiful view of the campus and river.

This has become an inter-campus project,” Clay Baumgartner, UCC’s Forestry program chair, said. “The Welding program has offered to construct a bench, UCC Facilities has provided equipment and the bark mulch for the trail, and UCC Communications and Marketing will help with the trail signage.”

The Forestry Club wanted a fun project that can always be updated and improved, which means this task will never be finished. They look forward to seeing how the arboretum can benefit the college and future students. Those who are interested in seeing the club’s progress are invited to stop by for a look.

About Umpqua Community College

Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.

Contact

Clay Baumgartner, PE – Contact
Chair, Associate Professor, Engineering/Surveying/Forestry & CIS
Phone: 541-440-4683