Members of the Green De Smet club planted more than 20 new trees around campus on Oct. 6 as the first step in a 5-year plan of adding close to 300 trees around school. 

Going forward, the club will plant another batch of around 20 trees about every six months. 

“The big reason is like an awareness, just about the environment, and the mass deforestation that is happening,” club president Billy Walbert ‘26 said. “I think also as an activity for our club, to make the school nicer and more sustainable.” 

After partnering with the nonprofit organization Forest ReLeaf of Missouri last spring, a forester came out and toured the campus and developed a 5-year forestry plan for the school. RELEAF receives trees from the Department of Conservation and gives them to sites for no cost.

Members planted the trees in the medians near the Ballas parking lot and near the baseball field. The club received a variety of species, all native to Missouri, including Willow Oaks, Overcup Oaks, Chinkapin Oaks, Kentucky Coffeetrees, and Tulip Trees. They are replacing the Pin Oaks and Ash Trees, which were dying due to age and pests. 

“The campus is basically 60 years old, and a lot of the trees that got planted 60 years ago are dying now,” Senior Director of Operations Chris Williams said. “They had a lifespan of 50 to 75 years.” 

Doing the work in the fall ensures that students would be able to do the planting, watering, and regular upkeep. 

“It also helps because then the dirt settles everything all winter,” Mr. Williams said.  “There’s lots of moisture available in the spring, and the trees are able to get a good start.” 

The newly introduced trees also have an estimated lifespan of 50-100 years, depending on how well they adapt to the soil they are in. 

“The guys that plant these trees may be able to come back for their 50-year reunion and take their pictures with the trees that they planted,” Mr. Williams said. “If this goes well, this is multi-generational type of work we’re doing.”