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Natural Environment

Natural Environment
students walk down garden path

Penn is a natural haven found within the heart of Philadelphia. Undoubtedly urban, our university is firmly integrated into West Philadelphia, but our environment does not end at campus borders. The organic system we foster — the trees, soils, and wildlife — all contribute to the greater environment. Penn helps to reduce urban heat island impacts, capture air pollution, reduce stormwater runoff, and provide necessary biodiverse urban habitats.

Penn’s natural environment mission is to reduce our environmental footprint by adopting best practices for ecological landscapes. This commitment to sustainable land management has created a balanced, naturally resilient, and beautiful campus ecosystem. 

Under the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 4.0,  the Ecological Landscape Stewardship Plan (ELSP) builds on Penn’s landscape best practices. ELSP improves ecological design and management of landscapes and open spaces across campus, fostering diverse beauty and balance throughout. Penn’s main campus, for example, is located in the center of a metropolis and is a level-2 certified arboretum. ​​

30x30 Nature Challenge

30x30 Nature Challenge
Civic Engagement
Natural Environment
Wellness
Faculty
Staff
Students

The 30x30 Challenge encourages the Penn community to spend 30 minutes in nature for all 30 days of April.

Sun filtering through trees in front of building
Purpose

Over the last decade, researchers have been documenting what many of us know intuitively - that nature is good for our health and well-being. Regularly spending time outdoors can reduce stress and boost immunity, energy levels, and creativity. 

Activites

Challenge yourself to spend at least 30 minutes outdoors in nature each day for all 30 days of April. Eat your lunch outside, go for a walk, or enjoy a local park! 

Connect

Tag us on Instagram (@pennsustainability), Twitter (@greenpenn), or Facebook (@PennSustainability) and use the hashtags #Penn30x30Challenge in your post to share your pictures of spending time outside. 

Get Involved

Each day during April, Be in the Know participants are challenged to spend at least 30 minutes outside. If you achieve the April 30x30 Outdoor Challenge for 21 out of 30 days and track your progress on the Personify Health platform, you will earn 750 points for the 2024-2025 Be in the Know wellness campaign. 

Students and other members of the Penn community ineligible for Be in the Know are encouraged to post themselves outside on social media using the hashtag #Penn30x30Challenge to enter into weekly raffles for sustainable prizes! 

Join through 'Be in The Know'

Creating Canopy Tree Giveaway

Creating Canopy
Civic Engagement
Natural Environment
Faculty
Staff

How to Get a Tree

CREATING CANOPY 2025 TREES ARE SOLD OUT. 

Creating Canopy happens each spring. Staff and faculty of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Hospital System are invited to register for a free tree two weeks before the giveaway event. Trees will be available to reserve on a first-come, first-served basis only through our online registration system. As part of our support of the City of Philadelphia’s Philly Tree Plan, priority registration will be given to Philadelphia residents. Learn what trees are available to select. 

  • Priority Registration began Monday, April 21, 2025, at 10 a.m. for Penn and UPHS staff and faculty that are City of Philadelphia residents. REGISTER HERE.  
  • Open Registration began May 1, 2025, at 10 a.m. for all Penn and UPHS staff and faculty.

Limit one tree per household. Addresses, zip codes, and registration times will be verified.

Those who successfully register will be responsible for picking their tree up on Penn’s campus the day of the event, and transporting it home. Find more details in the Frequently Asked Questions.

 

Picking Up the Tree

When you register, you will select a time to pick up your tree. In order to keep traffic moving, please arrive during your chosen time slot. The tree pick up event will be on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 3-6 p.m. at the Penn Park Parking Lot (3100 Lower Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104). Many GPS systems to do not recognize "Lower Walnut Street", so please familiarize yourself with our campus map.

The responsibility is yours to get your new tree home. Bring your car, or arrange a ride. Some past tree recipients have made creative use of wagons or hand trucks to transport their trees.

The young trees that you pick up will vary in size. Some trees are 2FT tall, while others are 9FT. You’ll want to be sure your tree will fit in your vehicle. You may wish to bring a plastic tarp or blanket to protect your car from moisture and soil.

Directions: Travel East on Chestnut Street to the intersection of Chestnut and S. 31st Street. Turn right on to South 31st Street. Drive to the end of South 31st Street and bear left into the Penn Park Parking Lot. The Creating Canopy Tree Giveaway is located on the far east side of the parking lot.

 

Sharing Your Tree Story


Creating Canopy has given away over 2,500 trees since it began in 2011. We would love to hear your stories to help us share the impact and encourage further greening.

Creating Canopy is an annual yard tree giveaway for University and UPHS employees. The event is partnership between Penn, Tree Philly, and Morris Arboretum.

 

CREATING CANOPY 2025 TREES ARE SOLD OUT. 

 

People giving away trees in a parking lot
Purpose

Penn supports the greening of urban areas, and especially in the greater Philadelphia region, by providing free trees to staff and faculty of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Hospital System.

Team

The University partners with TreePhilly, a program of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, for the Creating Canopy tree giveaway. 

Impact

Since the first Creating Canopy event in 2011, Penn has distributed over 2,500 trees.

Flyer

Print this flyer and post it in the break room or other common spaces. 

EnviroLab

Energy & Climate
Natural Environment
Faculty
Staff
Students

EnviroLab is a workspace dedicated to supporting cutting edge graduate research on environment society relations at the University of Pennsylvania.

Person in a lab
Purpose

Drawing together research in anthropology, history, science and technology studies, urban geography, EnviroLab is a workspace dedicated to supporting cutting edge graduate research on environment society relations at the University of Pennsylvania.

Visit EnviroLab