Bragg Elementary School Earns Tree Campus K-12 Distinction From the Arbor Day Foundation

Bragg Elementary School Earns Tree Campus K-12 Distinction From the Arbor Day Foundation

Program honors schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to nature-based education

 

Bragg Elementary School, located in Cerritos, CA, is one of 70 elementary, middle, and high schools across the United States to earn recognition through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus K-12 program.

 

The Arbor Day Foundation is the largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to tree planting. Its Tree Campus K-12 program, launched last year, encourages educators to create meaningful opportunities for students to interact with trees.

 

“Spending time in nature sparks children’s imaginations, improves their mental and physical health, and shapes them into lifelong environmental stewards,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We are thrilled to see schools like Bragg Elementary lead the way in this important work.”

 

To earn this distinction, Bragg Elementary met four goals:

 

  • Maintain a Tree Campus team that is dedicated to achieving recognition
  • Create an education plan that connects students to trees and their global benefits
  • Offer a hands-on experience that engages students in trees and the community
  • Hold an Arbor Day observance to celebrate trees within the school or the community

 

“I’m so proud that our school was recognized for our work on the environment,” said Principal Jeff Heilig. “Our students, led by our Green Team, have worked hard to make our campus greener, and their leadership in planting trees has made a lasting impact at our school.”

 

The recognized schools span 31 states. In the first year of the program, more than 15,000 students participated in an Arbor Day celebration, and nearly 30,000 trees were planted.

 

Other Arbor Day Foundation recognition programs include Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education, and Tree Campus Healthcare. Working together, the four programs celebrate tree planting efforts at nearly every community level. 

 

To learn more and see the full list of recognized schools, visit arborday.org/K12.