Edgehill campus recognized as a Level I Arboretum

In May of this year, USN became a Level I Arboretum with the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council.

USN arboretum plans began as a way to recognize and honor the diversity of trees on our historic campus and to create a framework wherein the collection can become a more actively seen part of the grounds.

The arboretum loop begins and ends on USN’s front lawn, where many of our oldest trees are highlighted. There are several trees located within the secured part of the campus and which are not accessible to the public. The majority of our 32 labeled specimens are accessed on the lawn, along a public sidewalk, and in our Outdoor Classroom located at the 19th Avenue entrance.

USN teachers will have the opportunity to use the arboretum for curricular connections that can span grade levels and disciplines. As part of the Young Naturalist curriculum, students will have the opportunity to learn our trees and track changes through the seasons.

The arboretum grew from dream to reality thanks to Lower School Naturalist Lisa Preston and Joanna Brichetto, a Tennessee naturalist and parent of Margaret Rose ’13 and Izzy Rose ’25. Additional assistance came from Steve Baskauf, biology professor at Vanderbilt University (parent of Carmen '12 and Jessie '15); Cabot Cameron, master arborist and founder of Druid Tree Services (parent of Skye '15 and Ella '17); Lorna Morris ’91, former USN High School biology teacher, and Brooks Mathews (parent of Ella '12 and Hop '15) who gifted USN with most of the young trees growing in the Outdoor Classroom.

We invite everyone in the extended USN community — students, families, teachers, faculty, staff, and alumni — to use the arboretum as an excuse to notice the trees, wonder at them, learn from them, and value them.

More information about the USN Arboretum can be found in the Middle Tennessee section at https://www.tufc.com/programs/tree/arboreta/.
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USN Mission: 
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.