Fresno State, University High Students Team up for Earth Day Celebration

In celebration of Earth Day, students from Fresno State and University High School teamed up to plant five new trees on their shared campus.

Jack Roberts, a junior at University High, spearheaded the Earth Day project, hoping to rebuild Fresno’s “endemic ecology.” Last year, he led a similar project at Hoover High School.

“I wanted to expand beyond just the high school level and bring (this event) into a college campus,” Roberts said. He added that because he is on campus every day, he can see and enjoy the results of the work.

The students met at lunchtime, ready to get their hands dirty and expand campus greenery. Participants mainly consisted of members of University High’s new environmental club, which was recently founded by Roberts.

The group, aided by campus grounds workers, planted five valley oaks, a species endemic to Fresno.

“It’s interesting to have an actual impact because you can do whatever, so many presentations and talks and things of that sort,” said Justin Downer, a junior at University High. “But actually having something physical that you can see and walk past every day and be like, ‘I planted that, I did that.’ It has more meaning to it.”

Preparation for the Earth Day Project

Earth Day tree plantings have become an annual tradition for Roberts, who aims to educate the public about the importance of the environment and supporting native species.

The high school junior reached out to Fresno State University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, who connected him with grounds workers. Roberts said the process was relatively easy.

After getting in touch, Roberts and the grounds workers began logistics planning. They decided to plant five trees along a pathway near University High.

The walkway is already lined with trees planted by other volunteers, showing a history of environmental work.

“We were encouraged by these trees over here,” Downer said pointing to trees nearby. “(They) were all planted by community service members, and so we were inspired by them. And we are hoping to inspire others to do the same thing.”

Additionally, Fresno State’s Associated Students Inc. designed and posted a flyer on social media promoting the event, encouraging students to participate in planting the trees.

Importance of Valley Oaks

The group solely planted valley oaks, which are native to the region and well-suited for the local ecosystem.

“Since these valley oaks are native, they can house many more species that are also native to our environment,” Roberts said.

The oaks’ large size and lifespan allow for significant carbon absorption, while requiring less water than grass. Additionally, they support many native species that were displaced as valley oaks were removed from the area.

At Fresno State, the students are replacing several valley oaks that were removed or died due to disease.

“We’re planting mostly at school and college campuses so students can learn that these trees support our Central Valley’s ecosystem and they’re a keystone species of fauna,” Roberts said. “By planting them on college campuses, hopefully we can spread awareness that we can revive this ecosystem.”

Environmental Education Grows

University High School’s new environmental club, which started this academic year, has gained 20 members and meets weekly.

The group discusses environmental and climate issues, aiming to educate themselves on these topics. Projects like the Earth Day tree planting help members approach the challenge of climate change “piece by piece,” Downer said. “It makes you feel less small.”

Roberts hopes the club will spread awareness about environmental protection and encourage people to actively support sustainability efforts.

He also hopes to provide a foundation for understanding the importance of the environment, which he said could lead to greater change in the future.

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