Welcome and Welcome Back for Fall 2025!

From everyone here at the Environmental Stewardship Center, welcome and welcome back to Kalamazoo College for the fall 2025 trimester! In honor of the new term (and our new first years), we’ve put together a list of what the ESC has to offer, events you can expect from the ESC this term, and resources to get involved!

The Lillian Anderson Arboretum is our one off-campus green space, located roughly 5 miles from K’s campus. It is roughly 140 acres, contained marshes, pine forests, and meadows, all interconnected through miles of trail pathways. The arboretum is an integral component to living green here at K. Not only is it used by classes as a learning lab (like the Arboretum P.E. class running this fall), but the arboretum has also been the source of numerous SIPs throughout the years and is continuously maintained by our student Arb Crew. Additionally, it’s enjoyed by the public and students in their free time; in fact, the arboretum is open from dusk to dawn!

Upcoming events to look out for: There is a Trip to the Arb scheduled for Wednesday 10/8 from 4:10-6:15pm – transportation provided!

One of the major components of the Climate Action Plan is promoting zero-waste on our campus, and the most important way we do that is through our composting program! With the support of the ESC and Facilities Management, the composting program is run by students who are a part of the Compost Crew. These students help collect food waste from students, faculty, and staff with their green compost buckets stationed throughout campus – you’ve probably already seen one!  

You can find the composting program in the Grove, the wooded area located next to the Living Learning houses and the Dewaters residence hall. Feel free to stop by, pick up your free compost bucket, and help our campus strive towards being zero-waste!

Upcoming events to look out for: Smashing Pumpkins, a Halloween-themed event where students are encouraged to smash old, leftover pumpkins from the fall season (and the scraps are then composted!)  

Composting shed with bucket drop off and pick up signs

Through student initiative and faculty support, our campus is lucky enough to have our very own hoop house, a type of unheated greenhouse! Located behind the Fitness and Wellness Center, the Hoop House has been the source of SIPs, classroom activities, club events, and more! Here you can visit during open hours (every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30-6:00pm) to learn more about growing fruits and vegetables, get your hands in the dirt, take some fresh produce home, or just to enjoy the company of other sustainability-minded students! 

Upcoming events to look out for: the annual Harvest Festival, where current students, faculty, and staff can mingle with alumni and community members to celebrate the Mother Corn grown at the Hoop House, enjoy some fresh food, and build bridges with the great K community!

Hoop House Spotlight!

Spring is in full swing all around campus, and the perfect spot to enjoy the warmth and greenery is in the Hoop House! We’re taking a moment this week to highlight what’s growing and going on in the Hoop House this spring!

Visit the Hoop House!

Everyone is welcome at the Hoop House! Located behind the Fitness and Wellness Center, the Hoop House gardens are available to all of the campus community. Come drop in to open hours, which take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:30-6pm. You’re welcome to come in and work on gardening projects, harvest from fruits and veggies to take home with you, or just stop in to hang out! All the harvestable plants will be listed on the whiteboard, but here’s a list of what’s growing in the Hoop House!

  • End-of-cycle (so take them home soon!): kale, spinach, chives, and other greens
  • Ready to harvest: lemon balm, thyme
  • Growing stages: potatoes, radishes, squash, tomatoes, garlic, eggplant, snap peas
  • Growing in flats: bee and butterfly friendly flowers, corn
  • Other fun things: the peach tree is blossoming right now, and the fig tree grew a little leaf!

Meet the Crew

The Hoop House is up and running thanks to a phenomenal crew of students and staff who are passionate about green and growing spaces on campus! Hoop House Interns work with ESC Staff and Lee Arbogast to assist with the management of and care for the Hoop House gardens. During the Fall and Spring terms, they host regular open gardening hours for students, staff, and the greater Kalamazoo community and organize events using their own produce.

Hoop House Interns work with ESC Staff and Lee Arbogast to assist with the management of and care for the Hoop House gardens. During the Fall and Spring terms, they host regular open gardening hours for students, staff, and the greater Kalamazoo community and organize events using their own produce.

Hoop House Interns work with ESC Staff and Lee Arbogast to assist with the management of and care for the Hoop House gardens. During the Fall and Spring terms, they host regular open gardening hours for students, staff, and the greater Kalamazoo community and organize events using their own produce.

Zoe Wilson, K’26

Position: Hoop House Intern
Majors: Psychology and Critical Ethnic Studies
Pronouns: She/her
Fun Fact: I love to paint and write poetry!

Estelle Metz, K’27

Position: Hoop House Intern
Majors: Business and French
Pronouns: She/her
Fun Fact: I have four chickens!

Hayden Rubin, K’26

Position: Hoop House Intern
Majors: English and History
Pronouns: She/they
Fun Fact: I have my black lab named Baker here with me at K!

Amelie Sack, K’27

Position: Hoop House Intern
Majors: Anthropology and Sociology, Women and Gender Studies
Pronouns: They/she
Fun Fact: I have studied for four years as an opera singer!

The Hoop House is Hiring!

Do you want to get more involved with the Hoop House? Now you can! The Hoop House is hiring another intern for the Fall of 2025. To learn more about the position and how to apply, check out this link. The Handshake application is available here. We hope to see you in the Hoop House!