Canopy for Kids initiative to bring shade trees to Phoenix schools
ASU's Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy partners with city of Phoenix, others on new program
Canopy for Kids is an annual program to increase shade tree coverage and environmental education. Each year, nine schools will be selected to receive training, funding and support to plant an urban forest demonstration site on their campus. Courtesy photo
By Allison Wolf
The city of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation has been working to cool down Phoenix schools using shade trees since 2023.
Thanks to the support of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council, the city has now partnered with Arizona State University's Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy, EcoRise and Watershed Management Group to plant shade trees and native pollinator gardens in Phoenix schools through the Canopy for Kids program.
The Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy, a unit of the Rob Walton College of Global Futures, utilizes the expertise at ASU to provide educators with the knowledge and resources needed to bring the science of sustainability into any pre-K and K-12 classroom.
“This program goes beyond just expanding shade — it showcases the value of giving our students safer, cooler spaces to learn and play and gives them a role in caring for their community,” Mayor Gallego said. “This initiative is creating immediate and lasting impact for Phoenix schools; we've heard directly from kids that this means they can enjoy recess year-round.”
As one of the hottest cities in the United States, the city of Phoenix views shade implementation as a high priority.
“Planting trees at our schools is an essential investment we can make to help mitigate heat and create a more resilient future for upcoming generations,” said Lora Martens, Urban Tree Program manager for the city of Phoenix. “The Canopy for Kids program brings lasting shade, cooler temperatures and a stronger sense of community.”
This initiative builds on both the city of Phoenix’s existing work and the Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy’s award-winning Storm Smart Schools program to offer up to nine school teams per year an opportunity to integrate urban forestry, rainwater harvesting and sustainability into school campuses and classrooms.
Through the Canopy for Kids initiative, teachers will receive professional development hours and stipends, and schools will design and build a native habitat with shade trees on their campuses.
“The Canopy for Kids program is a great example of collaboration that leads to real solutions,” said Miki Kittilson, dean of the College of Global Futures. “Through our Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy, teachers and students can have agency in shaping their community and in creating a learning environment they can thrive in.”
Below are the schools that have been selected for the 2025–26 school year:
- Augustus H. Shaw Jr. Montessori School
- Bioscience High School
- Catalina Ventura School
- Clarendon Elementary School
- Larry C. Kennedy Elementary School
- Master the Basics in Early Education
- Peralta Elementary School
- Phoenix International Academy
- St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School
Students will work with experts at Watershed Management Group and EcoRise to lead the design and implementation of rainwater harvesting gardens that use drought resistant trees and other ground cover to create outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and functional. Students will also track surface temperatures to demonstrate the efficacy of plants to reduce heat in outdoor spaces.
“At EcoRise, we believe students are powerful agents of change. When students lead these projects, they gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to build a more sustainable and equitable future,” said T. Larson, program manager at EcoRise in Tucson, Arizona.
EcoRise and Watershed Management Group have been supporting the Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy in the development of Phoenix school gardens since 2022, and this program utilizes the knowledge and support that the two organizations bring.
“It’s exciting to be part of a program that is providing education and resources for schools to actively plan and implement their own solutions to community health issues we face in communities throughout Phoenix,” said Charlie Alcorn, program manager at Watershed Management Group. “This is more than an investment in school spaces — it’s allowing students to become stewards of their campus and community.”
According to the city of Phoenix, shade can reduce the radiant temperature by more than 30 degrees Fahrenheit. As year-round temperatures continue to increase, this program will provide not only short-term relief to school communities, but a legacy of shade for the foreseeable future.
“Schools are often the heart of a community, and I want to ensure they are cool, welcoming spaces with plenty of shade,” noted Amy Liu Flores, senior program manager at the Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy. “These should be places where people want to gather, where the community can work together towards a sustainable future.”
Educators interested in applying for next year’s Canopy for Kids cycle can complete the interest form. The Walton Sustainability Teachers Academy will reach out when next year’s cycle opens in May 2026.