Why Schools Should Plant Trees

Education is, of course, an investment in the future. Nurturing the mind of a child is challenging, expensive, and time-intensive, and takes the dedication and expertise of an entire community of professionals for over a decade to complete. But in the end it pays off in order to foster a populace who can productively participate in and improve our society, and ultimately nurture and support the next generation in addition to past ones. Trees are also, of course, an investment in the future. Like schoolchildren, they can sometimes be messy or temperamental and require more care than we may have energy for, but they are absolutely worth the investment because they will grow to enhance our communities and to give back both in the short term and far into the future. Education and tree planting are two of the best investments we can make for a prosperous future, so what could be better than combining the two, and planting trees at schools?

Trees and Schools

Trees provide a wealth of environmental, social and economic benefits to our homes, neighborhoods, schools and communities. Trees and forests improve air and water quality, sequester carbon dioxide, reduce stormwater and flooding, shade and cool their surroundings, produce oxygen, provide habitat for wildlife, increase property values, and improve human physical and mental health. Children and youth have the most to gain from connections with nature, especially trees and forests. Studies continue to illustrate the benefits of connecting children with nature. The presence of trees and vegetation at schools, parks, and neighborhoods supports children's development, learning, focus, and can reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Green environments can improve school performance. Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that young girls that grew up with greener settings showed better concentration, exhibited less impulsive behaviors, had higher self-discipline and were able to handle peer pressure. Middle-school students with views of nature at school showed reductions in misbehavior, feelings of unfriendliness and absenteeism. A study of public high school students found consistent improvements in student behavior and performance when there were views of nature. The presence of nature (even just views) help student recovery from mental fatigue and stress.

Students can be involved with nearly every part of the tree establishment process, which is not only helpful for growing the trees but also beneficial to the children. In a time when many children spend little time outdoors, are not as physically active as recommended, and are nervous about the future of their environment, tree planting is as important as ever to both their bodies and minds. Students in middle or high school could help decide which trees to plant, which will help the students gain valuable experience in doing research and critical thinking, and knowledge of the trees that they will potentially someday need to know about for careers or as homeowners. Planting and tree tending days can be fun and impactful for students of all ages; they will not only go home with good memories but a sense of satisfaction that they have made a positive impact on their world. A new tree planting is also an excellent outdoor classroom to practice recently learned skills in math, science, reading, and writing.

A true forest will be the most valuable both environmentally and pragmatically, but adding even just a few trees to an area will still be hugely beneficial. Decades of research show that in a developed area like a school campus, even moderate shade from trees will benefit air quality, reducing rates of asthma and the brutal heat of summer. Trees also have dramatic positive impacts on mental and physical health, both of which are critical to prioritize for children. The leaves of native trees can be stunning to look at in the autumn but also form the base of food webs: feeding insects and other herbivores. In turn, they feed songbirds and mammals. Not only do our native critters also deserve to be here, but they will almost universally spark joy, curiosity, and creativity for children who get to see them.

Planting trees and tending to them until they can begin to care for us is certainly worthwhile, but like any investment, careful planning is prudent, and the effort will take some upfront resources and work. Luckily there are many organizations around Pennsylvania whose primary focus is to help reduce or eliminate the upfront burden of tree planting, so that making the decision is as easy as an afternoon in the shade.

Success Story

When school district leadership sees the value in planting trees, it's a win-win for students, teachers, administration, parents, campus visitors, and the broader community. In 2019, Tom Horton, the Director of Facilities at Carlisle Area School District (Cumberland County), had a vision to transform an unutilized section of the campus into a forested plot of land. The acreage be planted was affectionately known as the "Back 40" and ran adjacent to the cross-country trail, as well as the Pennsylvania Turnpike. His primary goal for the site was to increase carbon sequestration, however the other ecosystem services and educational opportunities provided by the reforesting project were a welcome bonus. This project also supported Horton's vision of greening the district's properties, ideas of which included a green-roof teaching and research pavilion, car charging stations, and more green stormwater infrastructure among the campuses.

Partners were convened, including representatives from Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB), Penn State Extension's Master Watershed Steward (MWS) Program, Dickinson College, and Carlisle Construction Materials. In November 2020, eight of the ten acres were planted by contractor with funding from the U.S. Forest Service leaving the last two acres to be planted by students the following spring.

After months of Covid-related stress and tension, masking, and shifting school schedules, two planting days were scheduled with some members of the Carlisle High School Science Department. ACB provided advance training to the teaching team and volunteers. The MWS coordinator organized equipment and materials, arranged schedules and logistics with the teachers, and recruited Master Watershed Stewards and other community volunteers to be onsite during planting to help students check and replace trees and manage the equipment. In April 2020, more than 300 students finally stepped outside and planted approximately 500 trees to complete the last two acres. Bill Bechtel, Geo-environmental Science Teacher, said "That was a very difficult year and I felt like [those planting sessions were] the first time I was able to connect with many of the students. It was certainly the first time we did any real hands-on science that year."

Since then, over the course of two days each spring and fall, four or five teachers hike about half a mile to the planting site with each science class to get hands dirty. Overall, this involves 300-400 students checking on the site and replacing trees which have not survived. The replacement trees are provided by an ACB volunteer who collects and propagates native tree seeds.

The site is also checked monthly during the growing season by ACB Riparian Rangers and Master Watershed Stewards. These volunteers are trained by ACB to provide consistent maintenance for and tracking of the trees. These critical volunteers help ensure the success of newly planted reforesting projects.

Advanced Placement Biology Teacher Jimmy Wilkinson said of the field experiences, "Every year students cite tree planting as one of the top three highlights of the year. They love getting outside and planting something that will be there long after they graduate. We also took time in class this year to study the different kinds of trees that we planted and the benefits they provide to the ecosystem. It was a blast to see students get excited to plant a tree they learned about!"

"For some students, this may be the first time they have had a chance to do plantings of this volume, or to engage in a high school campus project that has so many beneficial and long-lasting impacts." said Carlisle High School Science Program Supervisor Sam Moyer. "The partnership with ACB and the MWS program has enhanced the science curriculum, provided a well-organized and valuable field experience, and allowed the students to help create a forest that will provide so many benefits for people, wildlife, and the planet." Holly Smith, former MWS Coordinator for Cumberland, Franklin, and Adams counties underscored the enthusiasm and cooperation of the high school science teachers, and district administration and maintenance department. "Without their support, the project doesn't succeed. Carlisle has raised the bar for campus transformation, innovative outdoor classroom opportunities, and community partnerships."

When students are onsite, they recognize when they return to campus in the future, they can tell their families, "I helped plant this forest." This legacy, now rebranded as "Horton's Hill," will benefit generations to come.

Getting Ready to Plant

Those considering tree planting projects on school campuses might begin by engaging with partners and stakeholders. This includes experts, such as the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resource Bureau of Forestry, watershed and forestry specialists at your county's conservation district, and other organizations that plant a lot of trees and/or can help find funding. Next, gather the school district leadership - maintenance team, curriculum director, and a few key teachers. The school district will want to know that the project will be economically viable and succeed into perpetuity. Teachers may need assistance not only with working in the field with students, but also with lessons or activities related to watersheds and forests. That's where your community volunteers enter. The Master Watershed Steward program trains volunteers in topics related to watershed management and restoration and facilitates volunteer participation in projects just like this. If your county has a MWS Program, contact the coordinator. Local watershed associations may also have knowledgeable volunteers who can help. Note: Be sure your community volunteers have required background clearances to work with youth before becoming involved. The key is finding a team that is dedicated to the success of the project, is willing to think outside the box, and will further the project over time even through staff turnover. Remember to not reinvent the wheel. If you know of a successful school campus planting project, contact those involved and learn their key strategies and lessons learned.

As students experience repeated tree planting and tending sessions over time, and participate in related studies such as phenology, pollination, ecology, and habitat, their lens changes and they begin thinking beyond themselves and into the future. If they are young enough, they can appreciate some of the campus transformation during their K-12 academic career. This can be life changing for individual students and the broader community, and ultimately, benefits wildlife, water and air quality, and helps offset climate change.