Set against the challenges of a global pandemic, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus Healthcare program recognized a record 31 facilities in 16 states upon the year’s conclusion.

The Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization in the world dedicated to planting trees. Its Tree Campus Healthcare program aims to recognize healthcare campuses that incorporate green spaces into their campus landscapes and invest in their community forest.

“The timeliness of this Arbor Day Foundation program came during a time when many of our healthcare institutions were under great stress,” said Dan Lambe, president and chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees on healthcare facilities provide much need green space to help with the recovery or rehabilitation process.”

Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning at Davey Tree, said the pandemic emphasized the importance of healthcare workers and campuses. “The past few years have reinforced that healthcare workers and their facilities are critical in our communities,” she said. “At Davey, we are proud to support a program that helps these facilities work with their surrounding neighborhoods to spotlight the connection between trees and human health.”

The Tree Campus Healthcare program began in 2019 to convey the vital role of nature and green spaces in community health and wellness settings. Natural areas help patients reduce stress, help restore physical health, and shorten the overall recovery process. Additionally, recognized healthcare facilities demonstrated a profound understanding of the intersection of nature and human health through activities like distributing free trees to community members and using trees to create therapeutic landscapes on campus.

The program recognizes a range of healthcare facilities that demonstrate a commitment to improving community wellness through tree planting, education, and community engagement. First-year participants include IU Health Bloomington at the Regional Academic Health Center (Bloomington, IN), Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital (Grand Rapids, MI), Lincoln Regional Center (Lincoln, NE), Cleveland Clinic Akron General (Akron, OH), The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (Murray, UT), Riverton Hospital (Riverton, UT), American Fork Hospital (American Fork, UT), Orem Community Hospital (Orem, UT) and Aspirus Wausau Hospital (Wausau, WI).

The recognized campuses include community hospitals, university hospitals, rural hospitals, veterans’ hospitals, children’s hospitals, and residential care facilities. Each facility met five program standards throughout the year: the formation of an advisory committee, development of a tree care plan, participation in a community forestry project, sponsorship of a celebration event or education campaign, and a suggested commitment to financial investment in tree projects, education events, and community outreach.

For more information, please visit www.treecampushealthcare.org. This program is made possible through financial support from professional partner The Davey Tree Expert Company and the collaboration of the Professional Grounds Management Society, Practice Greenhealth, and the USDA Forest Service. Interested inpatient healthcare facilities may apply for 2021 recognition this fall.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 400 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

About The Davey Tree Expert Company

The Davey Tree Expert Company, established in 1880 and headquartered in Kent, Ohio, provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. With 11,000 employees, Davey Tree is the eighth largest employee-owned company in the U.S. Visit www.davey.com to learn more about Davey Tree and discover your next career opportunity.