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Eco Friendly/Environmental Campus Locations and Initiatives

Eco friendly initiatives, areas and points of interest on the RVCC campus which are of importance to the environment and part of RVCC's sustainability story.

Grove of 400 Year Old Oak Trees

In the woods behind the RVCC Power Plant and near the Achievement Center, you will find 3 oak trees dating back to the founding of the property in the 1700s. These trees were part of the original property line.

Oak trees reach maturity at around 75 years of age and usually their average lifespan is around 150-250 years. However, some of these magnificent trees defy all odds and live much longer than that as these 3 are around 400 years old.

Oak trees improve air quality by storing carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. The leaves of an oak tree absorb airborne pollutants. It has been observed that one tree can absorb up to 10 lbs. of air pollution in a single year.

Oaks also reduce water pollution by absorbing fertilizer nutrients, pesticides, and other trace contaminants in the soil, allowing compounds to break down slowly and be taken up as nutrients.

During rains, oak tree canopies capture and slow rainfall. This helps slow the eroding energy of rain drops by intercepting rainwater on leaves and stems surfaces during storms. This process eventually increases the amount of time rain takes to reach the ground and helps reduce potential surface erosion.

Did you know that the official state tree of New Jersey is the northern red oak?

RVCC Green House

Located behind the Whitman Science Center, the RVCC Greenhouse was constructed in 2021 to be used by students to conduct rare plant research and grow organic food and native plants. The Greenhouse is 18’ x 36’ and is also used by the Environmental Club and Enactus Team.

Biology Professor Jay Kelly and his students use the Greenhouse for rare plant research and propagation efforts to help prevent the extinction of rare plant species. Native plants grown in the Greenhouse are used to restore the campus environment which has been affected by the deer population, forest fragmentation and invasive plants.

In these research and restoration efforts, RVCC is partnering with Duke Farms and hopes to replicate the successes they have had at restoring the natural environment and educating the public about environmental stewardship on campus and in the community.