Most days we’re all looking down at our phones, but Earth Day gives us a reason to look up.
Yes, I’m a lover of trees. That feeling—of looking up, of slowing down—is often what makes a campus feel like the right place. And a few signature trees, no matter the size or location of an institution, can create moments of connection.
To notice the trees above us, of course. In a high-tech, noisy world, trees can offer a quiet, reassuring presence of something stable, established, and just plain lovely. Poets and authors over time return to trees for inspiration. Katie Holten’s book The Language of Trees is proof of the magic and legacy of trees and is just a joy to behold. (Even visually, the book inspires, featuring an alphabet created from the forms of actual trees.)
Where Connection Takes Root
I felt that firsthand touring campuses with my daughter. It was the trees that rooted me during those emotional interactions of considering where to attend.
That connection stayed with me. I went on to earn a certification in sylvotherapy, or forest therapy. I learned it online during busy weekend competitions where there was a lot of waiting, but it only makes sense outside. So when we found the right campus for Lily, I noticed something small but meaningful: the trees were marked, named, cared for. Maybe it’s a detail only tree huggers like me notice, but on a deeper level it said something about the kind of place it was.
The Question That Still Matters
Today, more than 400 U.S. colleges and universities are recognized as Tree Campus Higher Education institutions. Together, they’ve planted tens of thousands of trees, with some campuses managing more than 10,000 as part of long-term forestry plans. What might seem like basic maintenance is actually an investment in student well-being, sense of place, and belonging.
It’s also a reminder of something we see every day in our work: belonging is built in the physical experience of a campus. Prospective students might ask ChatGPT all kinds of questions during their search but it’s the questions that they ask themselves that truly impact their decision:
Do I see myself here? Is this a place where I can become more of who I really am and who I want to become?
Sometimes, the answer happens quietly. Maybe even under a tree.
Happy Earth Day!
