Nature, Knowledge, and Legacy: Yeager Arboretum Walk Blossoms with Community Spirit

With spring in full bloom and a cool breeze winding through the trees, Luzerne County Community College's Yeager Arboretum came alive on Wednesday evening, May 14th, for a memorable Campus Walk event that blended education, environmental awareness, and community spirit.*

The evening was led by Vincent Cotrone, Urban Forestry Educator with Penn State Extension, and joined by Libby Yeager, whose family's generosity helped establish the arboretum as a permanent, living classroom on campus. The event drew students, faculty, local residents, and nature lovers eager to experience the ecological richness of the campus.

"Each tree planted here tells a story," said Cotrone, as he guided the group through the designated pathways of the arboretum. "And it's our responsibility to preserve and understand that story."

Cotrone's lively, informative style captured the attention from the start. Carrying clippings and samples, he taught the basics of tree identification, distinguishing native from invasive species, and emphasized the importance of trees in both ecological and psychological health.

"Think about what this area would look like without these trees," Cotrone challenged attendees. "Trees make us feel different. Greening reduces stress, improves our mental capacity, and literally helps clean the air."

The walk offered more than scientific facts--it encouraged reflection. Cotrone spoke passionately about the role of trees in combating climate change, managing stormwater, and restoring the human spirit.

"You don't need to hike into the woods to benefit from nature," he added. "Green spaces on campuses and even down your street make a difference."

But beyond the biology and environmental science, the event was also a celebration of legacy--a tribute to the vision of Brooke and Libby Yeager. Brooke, a retired LCCC science professor, often took his students outdoors to learn directly from the flora surrounding them. That philosophy, rooted in hands-on education, inspired the couple to endow the Yeager Arboretum as a gift for future generations.

"My husband's dream was always to have an arboretum on this campus to educate students and the community," said Libby Yeager during the event. "We hope to do this kind of walk more frequently throughout the summer and fall."

She humbly admitted her own knowledge of trees is limited--"Grass. Tree. That's about my level," she joked--before proudly pointing out that she's picked up a few things along the way. "I know what a compound leaf is!"

The arboretum today features more than 50 identified specimens, most of them native to Pennsylvania, each marked and labeled to support self-guided learning. Libby's goal is for the space to continue growing?literally and figuratively?adding new species, hosting public events, and deepening community engagement with the natural world, something that would mean so much to her late husband.

Attendees left with more than just facts--they took home a renewed appreciation for their environment, a few laughs, and a strong sense of connection. As one participant remarked, "I walk this campus all the time, but tonight I saw it differently."

In the end, the Campus Walk was not just about trees. It was about roots?roots in education, roots in community, and the enduring roots of a couple's vision to bring people closer to the world around them.