Meet leading arborist Ruben Green for a free kid-friendly tree tour at the Junior Museum & Zoo.  

Date: Sat., April 9 

Time: 10AM - Noon

Location: Junior Museum & Zoo, 1451 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto 94301(Map) Click to sign-up.   

Treat you and your family to some fresh air, a healthy walk and chance to learn neat facts about local trees.    

The prevalence of childhood asthma in the U.S. has increased dramatically in the past 20 years and is particularly high in poor urban communities. While the exact cause for this increase remains unknown, environmental and lifestyle changes are believed to be possible contributors.  

Trees help prevent asthma by changing local air quality and by providing an inviting space for children to play outdoors. In this Journal study, G.S. Lovasi and colleagues investigate the association between street trees and childhood asthma by examining data on the prevalence of asthma for 4-year-old and 5-year-old children, hospitalizations as a result of asthma for children younger than 15, and number of street trees per square kilometer of city streets.  

In analyzing the data, the authors found that higher street tree density was associated with a lower prevalence of childhood asthma.  Based on these findings, the authors estimate that an increase in tree density of 343 trees per square kilometer would be associated with a 29% lower prevalence of early childhood asthma in certain areas.  

Canopy has always known that trees have an impact on air-quailty, and it is nice to see this data that draws attention to the important role of urban trees.  Canopy's Healthy Trees, Healthy Kids! to plant 1,000 shade and fruit trees at schools, will make a significant difference for local kids in Palo Alto and especially East Palo Alto. 

*Cited Report: Lovasi, G. S., Quinn, J. W., Neckerman, K. M., Perzanowski, M. S., & Rundle, A. (2008). "Children living in areas with more street trees have lower prevalence of asthma." Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 62(7), 647-649.  

Would you like to help Canopy plant local trees?

Do you like Cupcakes?  

If the answer is yes, please help us by enjoying cupcakes on Earth-Week (April 18 - 22)!  

Support Canopy through Earth-Week by eating Canopy Vanilla Cupcakes at Sprinkles Cupcakes from the Stanford Shopping Center.  The full amount of every Canopy Cupcake purchased through Earth-week will go to plant local trees. You can purchase a box and give them to friends!

Sprinkles gourmet cupcakes are a deliciously sophisticated update on an American classic. Each are truly unique and handcrafted from the finest ingredients. Canopy's cupcake is made from Madagascar Bourbon vanilla cake with creamy vanilla frosting!  Cupcakes are $3.50 each, and we need to purchase 430 of these Canopy Cupcakes to achieve the full potential of their $1,500 challenge to us!  

So, please help us eat cupcakes!  Buy a box to share with friends.  Is there a more enjoyable way to help plant trees?

Canopy Earth-Day Events  

Carbon Nation, Documentary

As we get ready for Earth-week, IDEO has "thought-started" a climate-change solutions.    

Date: Wed., April 13th at 7:00PM.

Location: Cubberly Community Center Theatre, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.    

Earth-Day Celebration  

Canopy will be tabling with Palo Alto Clean Green Street Scene for an educational celebration with Mayor Sid Espinosa. 

Date: Friday, April 29th 4 to 8 PM.

Location: Lytton Plaza, University and Emerson, Palo Alto.      

Themes on Richard Louv's  

The Nature Principle  

Canopy is excited to have Richard Louv on the evening of Sunday May 1st as he unveils his new book, The Nature Principle.   

We wanted to share a few themes from his yet-to-be released book, and encourage you to get your tickets and join our special event!      

At Canopy's event with E.O. Wilson in 2009 we learned about "biophilia," Wilsons' term for how humans are hard-wired to love and need exposure to nature.  Louv will take this concept further to show how, regardless of culture, people need natural environments to thrive.  

The Nature Principle holds that a "reconnection to the natural world is fundamental to health, well being, spirit, and survival, and that the more high-tech we become, the more nature we need."  

This issue is increasingly important because, as of 2008, more human beings live in cities and urban areas than in the countryside. The challenge, as Louv puts it, is in "re-naturing" cities as this urbanization increases. 

We need nature in our cities more than ever before.  Young adults today may constitute the first "de-natured" generation.  Electronic media use by children and youth has increased five years ago from 44 hours /  week, to more than 53 hours / week. As Louv will persuade, If we are to be so connected, let it be that we are equally connected to our surrounding environments.  

At our dinner, Louv will talk about the importance of creating new natural habitats where they once were around our homes, at workplaces, in neighborhoods, and in our schools.

The dinner with Richard Louv will take place at the new Elks Lodge in Palo Alto.  If you would like to attend, please click here call 650-964-6110 x304