The Arbor Day Foundation recognized Valencia College as a 2024 Tree Campus for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree planting, education, and community engagement. This is the twelfth year in a row that Valencia has received this national recognition.
To earn the Tree Campus designation, colleges and universities must meet five core standards: a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, annual investment in a campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and the sponsorship of a student service-learning project.
Trees on campus can lower the energy cost of campus facilities by providing shade cover, reducing extreme heat, improving air quality, and boosting physical health benefits for students and employees. In addition, trees improve students’ mental health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses, and create shaded areas for gathering and studying.
The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus program is operated in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and with support from professional partner Bartlett Tree Experts. To learn more about the program, visit arborday.org.