Canopies for Campuses
Would You like Canopies for Campuses to Come to Your School?
Research shows that trees have a positive effect on student performance. Trees Knoxville wants to bring the benefits of trees to Knox County schools. Trees Knoxville will design a tree planting plan for your school. We purchase the trees, organize the planting, and bring volunteers who guide and assist with the planting. Trees must be planted in areas where volunteers can access the trees before and after school hours as well as during breaks.
Quantity of trees depends on tree species and availability, Trees Knoxville purchases and plants focusing on ‘right tree, right location’ principles. All final locations will have the approval of your Principal and KCS maintenance. Having an accessible water source nearby is very helpful.
Applications are accepted year round. Trees Knoxville plants while trees are dormant usually from November through March depending on weather conditions. It may take several months to a year to coordinate and plan a Canopy for Campuses event and depends on funding.
Examples of general planting locations. Trees may not be planted all all locations. Some areas can not be planted due to sight lines and/or utilities.
West Valley Middle School April 2, 2022
31 volunteers, including teachers, staff, and families planted 8 huge and gorgeous trees of different species to support the Environmental Club’s goal towards arboretum certification. The trees were planted all around the track so all the students will enjoy the trees benefits! Thank you to everyone who helped plant trees!
West Hills Elementary March 5, 2022
On March 5th, 22 amazing volunteers showed up to plant 8 ball and burlap trees at West Hills Elementary. Tree Species included Dogwood, Redbud, and Willow! Thank you for everyone who helped out to help beautify the school and add to the urban canopy!
Is Your School Interested in becoming a tree campus?
Tree Campus K–12 inspires the next generation of tree stewards through experiences that bring the benefits of trees to life both inside and outside the classroom. The program fosters positive connections between youth and the trees in their community and cultivates within its participants a lifelong respect for trees on a global scale. Visit the Arbor Day Foundation Website to fond out more.
Is your school interested in becoming a state certified arboretum?
We can assist and guide you through the process. State guidelines for a Level One Arboretum require 30 different tree species labeled and a map of tree locations. Trees Knoxville doesn’t pay for signage, but we can collaborate to plant a variety of species to help schools reach the 30 different trees. We also partner with local arborists who can assist with tree identification.
Are you looking to integrate some tree-related activities in your classroom?
The Arbor Day Foundation has created this easy to use Resource Page!
How Canopies for Campuses Came to Be…
In 2016, 13 schools requested a total of 99 trees with a range from 3 to 12 trees to be planted at each school without any advertising efforts by Trees Knoxville. Tree Giveaways proved to be the hub for many requests. As a follow up to these requests, Trees Knoxville contacted the Knox County School system administration to determine their interest. We received an enthusiastic response and initiated the Canopies for Campuses program.
The First Schools…
The first Canopies for Campuses, funded by Pattison Sign Group of Knoxville, happened at Christenberry Elementary on May 11, 2017. With eager support of over 100 of their students & faculty, Trees Knoxville installed 14 trees at the school. Tree plantings at Beaumont Magnet Academy and Mooreland Heights Elementary followed in November of 2017.
Since then…
In 2018 Trees Knoxville completed tree plantings at Westmoreland Middle School, New Hopewell Elementary, Fulton High School, Sequoyah Elementary, Mount Olive Elementary, Whittle Springs Middle School, and Blue Grass Elementary.
In 2019, we’ve added trees to the landscapes at Gresham Middle School, Norwood Elementary, and South Knox Elementary.
Trees Knoxville has seen strong support in the community for this program benefiting children and schools. We have been approached by teachers, businesses, and neighborhoods to support trees for schools.
Our Board of Directors has committed to this effort. We are actively looking for opportunities to partner and work with city and county governments and local businesses to expand this campaign to plant trees at schools that have expressed an interest and need for trees.
Trees Knoxville works with the Knox County School System to plan tree planting events from November to March. Trees Knoxville provides the trees and the volunteers to plant the trees, as well as helps manage them during the first years as they get established.