Chatham Hall Arboretum Receives Accreditation

“This is all part of the School’s master plan, and the arboretum will allow the whole community to celebrate nature as a sacred place on campus. I am beyond proud to see this project completed this school year,” said Acting Head of School Dr. Chris Proctor.

The School’s application for Level 1 accreditation was approved this month by ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation, an international networking program coordinated through the Morton Arboretum. 

The official arboretum accreditation follows months of hard work across every level of the School, from students and faculty to alumnae and members of the Board of Trustees, among many others. Students in the Global Entrepreneurship program created the arboretum’s mission statement, which reflects both the idea of stewarding campus trees and the tree canopy as well as how it will inspire awe and wonder for the natural world. The students took a hands-on role throughout the process, including establishing the specific objectives of the arboretum and defining its unique value proposition. They also worked together in collaborative teams to collect information about each tree species to be compiled into fact sheets that link to each tree via a QR code. 

Over the next few months, plaques will be placed in front of each identified tree and the finishing touches will be installed in the areas surrounding the trees, including interpretive engagement stations designed to offer additional education and insight. Stations will include bluebird birdhouses, pollinator and shade gardens, and mosaic stepping stones, which will serve as stops along the way to create time and space for visitors to reflect on their experience.

“For the students in the Global Entrepreneurship program to take on this project, they first had to learn about arboretums, and then they had to work together to determine how an arboretum at Chatham Hall could create significant and lasting social value," said Beth Barksdale, director of entrepreneurship. “Their appreciation of the trees we have on campus grew immeasurably, and I’m confident lessons learned will transfer to exciting developments in their own respective communities for years to come.”

A dedication ceremony will take place on Earth Day on Monday, April 22 and will include a keynote by Molly Davis ‘79, director at The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky. Students will also participate in various workshops and programming in lieu of classes. Alumnae, parents, members of the regional community, and all are welcome to join us for this festive occasion. The dedication will also include performances, student-guided tours, and more. If you are interested in attending the dedication event on April 22, please RSVP to advancement@chathamhall.org. 

“We want the dedication event to be a huge celebration for the School and the wider community at which we can show the many benefits of an arboretum,” said Dr. Proctor.

The Chatham Hall Arboretum will also be celebrated during this spring’s Alumnae Reunion on May 3-5. Participants will learn more about its inception and creation and go on guided tours. Learn more and register at www.chathamhall.org/reunion. 

Special thanks to everyone who helped make this endeavor possible, including members of the Global Entrepreneurship program, Arboretum Task Force, Board of the Trustees, Master Planning Committee, Wolf Josey Landscape Architects, and many other Chatham Hall faculty, staff, and community members. 

We look forward to sharing our beautiful campus and its new arboretum for generations to come!