Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Gains ArbNet Status
The campus earns Level 1 accreditation, cataloging 32 tree species for public education in Chestnut Hill.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Botany
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Springside Chestnut Hill Academy has received Level 1 ArbNet accreditation for its 62-acre campus, becoming the third such site in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood. The certification, announced in September 2026, recognizes the school's documentation of 32 distinct tree species.
Why it matters
The school's initiative seeks to institutionalize environmental stewardship by engaging students in formal mapping and identification projects. By joining a global network of over 800 arboreta, the academy formalizes its campus as a protected educational resource for the local community.
The campus qualifies for its Level 1 status by maintaining 32 cataloged tree species across its 62-acre site, exceeding the mandatory threshold of 25. The area is integrated by a 1.5-mile walking path that encompasses mature specimens dating back to the 1880s.
The players
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
An educational institution in Philadelphia that serves as the site for the newly accredited arboretum.
ArbNet
An international accreditation program that facilitates a network of more than 800 professional and public arboreta.
The details
The arboretum was established through a documentation effort led by the school's Faculty and Staff Green Task Force. Environmental science students mapped and identified the trees, a process necessary to satisfy the accreditation standards of the ArbNet program. The site now serves as a formal educational arboretum, which requires maintaining a labeled tree collection and hosting at least one annual public tree-related event.
Timeline
1880s: Henry Howard Houston planted sugar maples on the campus grounds.
September 2026: The school announced its official Level 1 ArbNet accreditation.
December 4, 2026: A nature-themed art exhibition will conclude at the gallery.
The Tech Race
This accreditation places the academy within a global network of over 800 institutions dedicated to standardizing arboricultural documentation. The site now marks the third official arboretum location within the Chestnut Hill neighborhood.
Local visitors to the Chestnut Hill neighborhood can access the 1.5-mile walking path to view the cataloged tree collection. Future public programming, including an upcoming Art and Arbor Walk, will offer guided engagement with the campus grounds.
The takeaway
The school's certification provides a structured benchmark for tracking tree health and diversity on its historic campus. Residents and students should watch for the deployment of permanent identification tags as the next milestone in the school's arboretum development.
What happens next
The academy plans to host an Art and Arbor Walk tour in the coming months and is organizing a specific event for Earth Day.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in local plant research and conservation at Botany.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Chestnut Hill Local.
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