What is Learning Landscapes?

Urban Forestry’s Learning Landscapes program empowers students of all ages to plant trees at their school, supported by a professional urban forestry team. Students connect to their school and community by working together to improve and green their school grounds during a fun, outdoor educational experience. As trees grow, they provide environmental and aesthetic benefits to the school for decades. Trees also serve as a living, learning landscape for educators to teach science, math, and more.

Learning Landscapes trees come with a three-year commitment.

Urban Forestry commits to:

• Work with the school to create a planting plan based on school needs
• Provide all trees and supplies
• Organize volunteers and work with the students to properly plant the trees
• Provide three years of establishment maintenance for every tree planted, including watering, mulching, and weeding
• Provide a classroom component on trees ahead of the planting day

The school commits to:

• Secure all permissions to plant trees
• Complete a site visit with an Urban Forestry arborist to create a planting plan
• Commit to planting a minimum of 15 trees

Why plant trees at schools?

Providing green, treed areas for kids to learn and play has proven physical and mental health benefits for students. Trees bring cleaner air for students, cooler playgrounds, shade from harmful UV rays, and better mental focus. Planting trees also creates a sense of place, connecting students to their school and community. On top of the important services trees provide students, schools often have large spaces with plenty of room for trees to grow.  

For over 20 years, Urban Forestry has worked with schools to successfully plant and establish thousands of trees. Learn more about UF’s commitment to working with youth at schools in Portland’s citywide tree planting strategy, “Growing A More Equitable Forest.”

What types of trees are planted?

Large-form, evergreen and native trees! Focusing on trees with one or more of these characteristics means more impact for our local environment and more health benefits for students. Urban Forestry arborists will design a planting with trees that thrive in the space. By choosing the right trees in the right place, trees will be healthier, require less maintenance and live longer. At the time of planting trees will be 5’-10’ tall, providing an immediate visual impact to the space.

What does the program cost?

There is no cost to schools to participate! The Learning Landscapes program is funded by Portland’s Tree Planting Preservation Fund. This fund uses mitigation fees to achieve more equitable distribution of trees throughout the city.

How do I apply?

Read the mutual expectations information and complete the application here.

• Schools must be located inside Portland city limits to be eligible.

• Depending on the number of applications received, Urban Forestry may not be able to plant at every school that applies. Priority is given to schools that are located in neighborhoods with the greatest need. This is in accordance with Portland’s Tree Planting Strategy. If we have the capacity to plant in other neighborhoods, we will, so don’t hesitate to apply!