Overview

Physical Health Benefits
Schoolyard forests support improved air quality and pulmonary health, increased physical activity, motor skill development, and protection from heat and sun exposure.

Mental Health Benefits
Spending time outdoors in a schoolyard forest reduces stress and anxiety, strengthens a sense of belonging, increases positive social behavior, and reduces bullying.

Academic Achievement Benefits
Being outside in a schoolyard forest increases attention, motivation, and working memory; improves test scores; and boosts creativity and collaboration.

Environmental Literacy Benefits
Schoolyard forests provide opportunities to experience and connect with the natural world and strengthen students’ understanding of their local environment.

Career Development Benefits
Schoolyard forests support Career Technical Education in design and construction, and support the creation of green jobs and training opportunities.

Environmental Health Benefits
Creating a schoolyard forest increases or restores plant species, preserves soil moisture and prevents erosion, and provides habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.

Watershed Health and Stormwater Benefits
Creating a schoolyard forest helps restore or mimic natural hydrology, reduces flood risk, recharges groundwater aquifers, and improves watershed health.

Climate Resilience Benefits
Trees help decrease energy consumption needed for cooling, support carbon capture, and reduce the replacement quantities of asphalt and other high embodied energy materials.

Community Health and Engagement Benefits
Schoolyard forests increase equitable access to nature and its benefits, increase community cohesion, reduce crime, and support community resilience.

Full Summary of Benefits

Schoolyard forests and living schoolyards provide many immediate and long-term benefits to students and school communities, including health, learning, ecological, and community benefits. Research overwhelmingly shows that students, school communities, and the environment benefit from the creation of schoolyard forests on school grounds.

We invite you to read more about the benefits of schoolyard forests in the below document.

Health Benefits

Research overwhelmingly supports that being in and interacting with nature improves multiple dimensions of well-being. The below article explores the wide range of health benefits associated with being outdoors and interacting with nature through learning and play.