SCH Arboretum

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy at sunset

SCH Academy is a certified ArbNet Level I Arboretum, anchored by 32 documented trees that helped qualify our 62-acre campus. SCH's landscape has a long history of distinctive trees and plantings, dating back to 1886, when Henry Howard Houston first developed the property. Many of his original plantings, including the sugar maples along the main drive and specimen trees near the Inn, still thrive today.

Over the past 27 years, SCH has expanded this collection by partnering with the Morris Arboretum and the Friends of the Wissahickon to plant native species across our campus. From the American sycamore and Chinese elm trees lining Cherokee Street to the canopy trees along Willow Grove Avenue, we continue to cultivate a unique, inviting environment for all to enjoy. QUESTIONS? Email arboretum@sch.org.

DOWNLOAD THE SCH ARBORETUM WALKING MAP

OUR MISSION

The mission of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s Arboretum is to cultivate an inclusive, living laboratory that inspires curiosity and independent thought through engagement with the curated trees and woody plants of our Wissahickon Valley-adjacent campus. Extending beyond the classroom, we engage Pre-K–12 students and the public in environmental stewardship—fostering the knowledge, integrity, and resilience needed to effect positive change in our regional ecosystem.

Get Involved
Sustainability Initiatives

Get Involved

SCH offers an annual Art and Arbor Walk for mindful exploration of our campus.
Hands-on Stewardship: Students across all grade levels care for the environment, from tapping maple trees in the spring to planting and mulching new saplings.
Support a Greener Philadelphia: Partner with community nonprofits, such as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders program, to expand access to climate-controlling green spaces throughout Philadelphia. You can help control climate and build habitat and canopy by requesting street trees through Tree Tenders or the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Volunteer: Give your time to Friends of the Wissahickon and other Philadelphia-area environmental organizations to help preserve and protect critical public green spaces in the city.

Sustainability Initiatives

Stormwater management: Thanks to the William Penn Foundation's Green Stormwater Infrastructure Grant, our campus-wide rain gardens, bioswales, and storm recharge beds are designed to eliminate runoff and erosion.
Hands-on Stewardship: Students across all grade levels engage in environmental care, from tapping maple trees in the spring to planting and mulching new saplings.
Support Advocacy: Student-led teams partner with groups such as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders program to expand access to climate-controlling green spaces throughout Philadelphia.
Food Services: In 2025, our campus’ food services were re-certified with a 3-star rating from the Green Restaurant Association. Our kitchens also compost all scraps produced during cooking and donate end-of-week food surpluses to community partner Whosoever Gospel Mission in Germantown.

SCH CAMPUS MAP

OUTDOOR PROGRAM AT SCH

FACILITY RENTALS AT SCH