San Luis Valley Health Becomes Colorado’s First Healthcare Tree Campus

Pictured (From left to right): Greg Slone, Victoria Porras, Adam Daniels, Shannon Woodruff, Adam Moore, Kenzy Lake, Max Muller, Adam Martinez.

The Arbor Day Foundation has named San Luis Valley Health a 2026 Tree Campus Healthcare facility in recognition of its commitment to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment, and engagement. The designation makes SLV Health the first healthcare facility in Colorado to receive this honor.

Leading the Way

This effort was spearheaded by SLV Health Lead Groundskeeper, Victoria Porras. Porras oversees the team that cares for the trees at all SLV Health’s campuses, from Monte Vista to Antonito. She formed and chairs SLV Health’s Tree Advisory Committee, which oversees the organization’s tree care plan and led efforts to meet the five core standards required for the Tree Campus Healthcare designation. These five core standards include establishing a tree advisory committee, maintaining a facility tree care plan, complete a community forestry project, sponsor a celebration event that highlights the connection between trees and human health, and invest in a campus tree program.

On why this initiative matters and was so important to her personally, Porras said, “We take pride in providing the many benefits that trees give to our patients and community. It’s a great accomplishment to be Colorado’s first Healthcare Tree Campus and we look forward to continuing our landscape enhancements.”

Adam Moore, Supervisory Forester at the Alamosa Field Office of the Colorado State Forest Service, was an invaluable partner in helping SLV Health achieve the designation. He commented, “As a resident of Alamosa it is great to see SLV Health taking the initiative to become a Tree Campus Healthcare recognized facility. This shows their dedication to understanding how caring for their trees provides benefits to the patients they serve.”

The Importance of Trees in Healthcare

Trees play an essential role across SLV Health’s campuses, welcoming patients and visitors before they even step through the doors. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, trees and green spaces are proven to improve health outcomes and reduce stress for both patients and caretakers, while also providing profound layers of good for the greater community, including combating extreme heat, improving air quality, and reducing flooding impacts.

“Healthcare institutions like SLV Health are at the forefront of recognizing the profound impact nature can have on human health,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “By integrating trees and green spaces into their campuses, facilities like SLV Health are not only creating healing environments today, but they are also building a foundation for healthier, more resilient communities in the future.”
As part of the designation, the community can expect additional tree-focused events at SLV Health led by Porras and the Tree Advisory Committee. Follow SLV Health on Facebook and Instagram for announcements or subscribe to our newsletter at sanluisvalleyhealth.org to stay up to date on all things SLV Health.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972. The Tree Campus program recognizes schools, universities, and healthcare facilities that utilize trees to improve their communities.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.