Schools across Australia are being encouraged to take learning outside on Friday, 25 July for Schools Tree Day, the nation’s largest tree-planting and nature care event for students.
Schools Tree Day is part of the National Tree Day program and provides young Australians from early learning to high school with a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on environmental learning while gaining significant health and wellbeing benefits.
Research published in MDPI’s Education Sciences journal in January highlighted the powerful impact of outdoor learning on students’ development, showing nature-based activities significantly enhance psychological well-being, social connectivity, and environmental awareness among children and adolescents. By participating in Schools Tree Day, students can experience these benefits firsthand while contributing to a greener future.
Planet Ark, the organisation behind Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day, is calling on teachers and students to get their hands dirty and plant trees in their school grounds or local communities. Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling says that Schools Tree Day is more than just an environmental initiative—it’s an opportunity to support student learning in a meaningful and engaging way.
“Outdoor learning has been proven to boost students’ cognitive and emotional development and Schools Tree Day provides the perfect chance for educators to integrate nature into their curriculum, helping students connect with their environment while improving their overall well-being,” Ms Gilling said.
Since its inception, Schools Tree Day has seen thousands of schools across the country take part, fostering a generation of environmentally conscious students. Educators, parents and students interested in taking part in Schools Tree Day can sign up, access educational resources, and share their experiences by visiting treeday.planetark.org/get-involved/schools
