OneTree ²ÝÁñÉçÇø celebrates birch trees under the full moon

A map of the North Campus of the University of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Fairbanks showing a trail from the West Ridge to the T-Field research plots to the north.
Map courtesy of Scott Yeats
The map shows the location of the T-Field north of the main University of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Fairbanks campus.

Visit a birch grove under the full moon and learn about these trees Thursday, Oct. 17, on the University of ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Fairbanks’ North Campus. The event, sponsored by OneTree ²ÝÁñÉçÇø, will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with moonrise at 5:47 p.m.

The OneTree research plot in the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø T-Field, the event location, is home to 144 saplings from eight maternal trees. Jan Dawe, director of OneTree ²ÝÁñÉçÇø, studies the effects of climate change on birch trees by monitoring these saplings with the help of K-12 teachers and students; university students, staff and faculty; and Fairbanks artists.

OneTree ²ÝÁñÉçÇø engages learners of all ages in boreal forest education, citizen science and forest product development. Tree stewards help fund OneTree educators by sponsoring trees from the grove. 

A second full-moon celebration will be held at the research plots on Sunday, Dec. 15. 

Participants can get to the research plot on commuter trails from the ski hut on ²ÝÁñÉçÇø’s West Ridge or from the Large Animal Research Station. Come when you can and stay for as long as you’d like. 

For more information, contact Jan Dawe at 907-474-5907 or jan.dawe@alaska.edu. Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Dawe. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu

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