Sign up to grow green habits at Schools Tree Day

Give your students the gift of a green thumb by signing up for Schools Tree Day and receiving up to 50 native tubestock plants, mulch, garden tools and materials for your school.

The free event for early learning centres, primary schools and secondary schools gives young people a chance to look after their campus and enhance their natural environment ahead of National Tree Day.

Council celebrates this national event each year by encouraging school registrations and hosting a special ceremony at Riverway to celebrate participating classes the day before Schools Tree Day.

This year’s ceremony will be held on Thursday 23 July, giving participating schools time to collect their free gardening essentials before Schools Tree Day on Friday 24 July.

To celebrate School Tree Day 2026, Council will give schools up to 50 tubestock plants to grow at their schools.

Mayor Nick Dametto said gardening gave kids and teenagers a chance to learn about native plants and caring for their environment.

“Schools Tree Day is a great initiative by Planet Ark that Council is very proud to support,” Cr Dametto said.

“When schools register for Schools Tree Day, Council can provide free plants and tools to help students get their hands dirty and connect with nature.

“Each year we provide more than 1,000 plants to schools, which are grown at Council’s very own nursery, making this a cost-effective way to support our environment and give young people a great outdoor experience.”

Hermit Park State School Indigenous Education and Environmental Sustainability teacher aide Corrina Goldburg said the school’s students participated in Schools Tree Day each year.

“The students enjoy getting their hands dirty planting the donated trees and shrubs. The students benefit by learning about nature and the importance of planting new trees to encourage the bees and birds to visit our school grounds,” Ms Goldburg said.

“Our students enjoy working as a team to care for the plants and enjoy being outside in our garden spaces.”

Registrations for Schools Tree Day are open until 11:30pm on Friday 26 June. Council will coordinate the distribution of plants and materials to all registered schools.

For more information or to register your school, head to Council’s website.