Tomahawk joins all Aspirus hospitals in earning 2024 Tree Campus recognition

WISCONSIN – The Arbor Day Foundation recently named all 18 Aspirus Health hospitals, including the health system’s Tomahawk location, as 2024 Tree Campus institutions.

A release from Aspirus said its locations were recognized for their “dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree investment, education and community engagement.”

Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital joined 17 other Aspirus hospitals, including Merrill and Rhinelander, in earning the recognition. Currently, only 59 hospitals in the nation are designated as Tree Campus institutions, Aspirus noted.

To earn Tree Campus recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation, a healthcare institution must maintain a tree advisory committee, have a facility tree care plan, complete a community forestry project, educate the community on the connection between trees and human health and invest in a campus tree program.

“As a health system, we recognize the critical importance trees play in the health of individuals and communities,” said Andrew Miller, Director of System Facilities Management and Security for Aspirus Health. “We believe planting and caring for trees is the right thing to do and aligns to our mission of healing people, promoting health and strengthening communities.”

Aspirus said the Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

“Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972,” Aspirus stated. “The Tree Campus program recognizes schools, universities and healthcare facilities that utilize trees to improve their communities.”

“Healthcare institutions like Aspirus Health’s 18 hospitals are at the forefront of recognizing the profound impact nature can have on human health,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “By integrating trees and green spaces into their campuses, facilities like Aspirus Health’s are not only creating healing environments today, but they are also building a foundation for healthier, more resilient communities in the future.” 

Aspirus noted that trees and green spaces are proven to improve health outcomes and reduce stress for both patients and caretakers.

“Trees also provide profound layers of good for the greater community, including combating extreme heat, improving air quality and reducing flooding impacts,” Aspirus stated.

“The landscape and grounds program of our Aspirus Health campuses sets the stage for the exceptional care we deliver to our patients,” Miller said. “Our facilities teams take pride in ensuring we provide high-quality services and an excellent patient experience for everyone who visits our campuses. I commend our facilities team members for their hard work and dedication that earned Tree Campus designation for all 18 of our hospitals.”

To learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus program, visit www.arborday.org.