The Arbor Day Foundation recently dubbed Kendal at Oberlin a 2022 Tree Campus Healthcare institution. This award was presented in March of this year to only 35 healthcare institutions nationwide that made a considerable impact on wellness through tree planting, education, and community engagement.

In line with the City of Oberlin’s Climate Action Plan, this award is a testament to the community’s commitment to a better environment in Oberlin. The Tree Campus Healthcare program standards also include an advisory committee, a tree care plan, participation in community forestry projects, celebration events, education campaigns, and a financial commitment to investing in trees, education events, and community outreach.

The project was spearheaded by Kendal at Oberlin’s Horticulturist and Arboretum Curator Rachel Duncan, with much assistance from the community members on her committee.

“The John Bartram Arboretum [places] a high level of focus on education, community engagement, health and well-being, collaboration, and responsible investment and planning for the future,” Duncan said.

Duncan said that they arrived at this point organically and cited the City of Oberlin’s Climate Action Plan and its more than 20-year-long participation in the Tree City USA program as inspiration for its arboretum and applying for the award. Kendal at Oberlin was also re-accredited with full compliance by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for the sixth time.

The Arboretum is just one part of the campus’ wider sustainability initiative. Kendal at Oberlin Chief Executive Officer Barbara Thomas, as well as Director of Sales and Marketing Terry Kovach, note that they are following the City’s steps to a zero carbon community. Currently, they are focusing on ways to create a sustainable community with minimum pollution.

In addition to new technological infrastructure, including solar panels and electric stoves, they are looking to minimize their light pollution and become a dark sky community through their LED Lighting Retrofit project, aided by a $44,000 grant from the City of Oberlin.