Growing the Madison Promise Through the Arboretum Living Laboratory | Inauguration 2026

Friday, April 10, 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Event Type
Special Event
Contact
Sarah Ciccone
540-568-5180
Organization
Office of the President- University Events
Link
https://ems.jmu.edu/MasterCalendar/EventDetails.aspx?EventDetailId=973846

Celebrate JMU’s innovative Arboretum Living Laboratory as President Schmidt plants the first of hundreds of trees, the beginning of a green infrastructure reforestation. Learn about the exciting developments leaning into the Madison Promise in the realm of environmental stewardship, student and faculty research, and JMU’s participation in the Okanagan Charter.


In conjunction with the university’s Tree Campus Arbor Day observance, the Arboretum will give away saplings of native trees including oaks from the Virginia Department of Forestry’s legacy oaks in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Following the tree planting, attendees will be transported to the Arboretum’s Frances Plecker Education Center for an open house with refreshments and the opportunity to participate in a student-led naturalist tour or a faculty-led mindfulness walk.

Suggested parking locations: R5 lot and Ballard Parking Deck.

Arboretum 2026
Get Directions
Event Date
Event Time
Title
Building