tree campus healthcare hero

The Campus Connection

In addition to healthcare facilities, the Tree Campus program is also active in all 50 states on college campuses and in K-12 schools. Here’s the nationwide network of campuses you’ll be joining.

Healthcare facilities in many states are making massive strides in making their grounds more tree-friendly. Here’s what our partners have done in the last year:

59

Recognized facilities

19,978

Trees planted

18

States with a recognized institution

Start Your Journey

To earn Tree Campus Healthcare recognition, your facility will meet five standards during the calendar year and submit your application in the winter. Not sure where to start? Take our quick readiness quiz to see how close you are to earning recognition.

Standard 1: Advisory Committee

Each qualifying facility or campus will have an Advisory Committee with at least three members from among the following groups: healthcare providers, facility or grounds managers, administrators, patient advocates, residents, and community forestry advocates or officials.

Standard 2: Facility Tree Care Plan

Qualifying plans will set policies that govern management practices, both for staff and contractors. For facilities with little to no space for trees on their own property due to site restrictions, facilities may adopt the street, boulevard, or park trees near or adjacent to campus. 

Standard 3: Community Forestry Project

The facility will lead one or more community forestry projects during the year, including tree planting, tree maintenance, tree inventory, tree monitoring, and other practices in the community. Activities may occur on private or public property and involve either employees or volunteers, so long as community residents benefit from the project.  

Standard 4: Celebrate & Educate

Your facility must hold at least one event each year that educates staff, patients, or the community about the health benefits of trees. This could be a celebration, training, workshop, tree walk, or educational campaign that highlights the link between trees, wellness, and resilience.

Standard 5: Financial Investment 

One measure of the connection between trees and health in the community is the annual financial investment in tree projects, education events, and community outreach—both on and off-campus. Though not mandatory, it is suggested that the facility work towards an annual investment of $2 per employee (Full-Time Equivalent), either as cash or in-kind expenses, or in combination.

Send in Your Application

Once your facility has met all five Tree Campus Healthcare standards, you’re ready to apply! Submit your application by December 31st each year, and join a national network of healthcare institutions recognized for growing healthier communities through trees.

Why Facilities Love Tree Campus

It is our business to be talking about trees and health. As leaders in healthcare in East Texas, we need to be responsible for everything we take care of — it falls within our mission.

Aaron Martinez
Certified Grounds Manager, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System

We ultimately are trying to impact the health of the population that we serve. Improving air quality, reducing carbon pollution, and improving water quality benefits everyone and can be accomplished through tree planting.

Jon Utech
Senior Director, Office for a Healthy Environment, Cleveland Clinic

Trees impact safety, beauty, quality of life … our residents, employees, and the public benefit when we invest in community trees.

Donna Hibbs
Vice President of Grounds and Landscaping, Masonic Homes of Kentucky
Apply today

Ready to Start?

When you create an account, you take an important step towards becoming a Tree Campus – even if you’re not ready to apply yet. Get the resources you need to get ready and start your plan.

Tree Campus Healthcare is an Arbor Day Foundation program in cooperation with our exclusive professional partner, The Davey Tree Expert Company, and alongside our partners at the Professional Grounds Management Society, Practice Greenhealth, and the USDA Forest Service.

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