UPPER POTTSGROVE PA – GreenAllies, the Pottstown-based non-profit organization that encourages students to become “environmental sustainability leaders,” is among 19 June recipients of a 2025 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.
The group’s nine years of work with Althouse Arboretum, the 20-acre outdoor education center at 1794 Gilbertsville Rd., was recognized by Jessica Shirley, acting secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), on behalf of Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The award embodies “the innovative thinking needed to protect our environment and shape a more sustainable future,” Shirley says.
The department praised the arboretum’s 2024 efforts to attract more than 17,000 visitors “with programming led exclusively” by high school students from five area school districts. “Students were responsible for everything, including writing curriculum for a summer nature camp program, and hosting community events,” it notes.
During 2024, the DEP adds, GreenAllies secured a property near the arboretum and planted a grass meadow needed to expand programming. It then recruited volunteers to build a trail connecting the meadow to the existing property.
In the arboretum itself, students have planted more than 100 native Pennsylvania trees. They also introduced more than 50 varieties of native wildflowers and other plants into natural habitats at the property.
Its 2024 sustainability programs included a community recycling day that collected 21 tons of electronics, appliances, and scrap metal, as well as 78 bicycles that were later refurbished and donated to local families.
A Validation of Hard Work
“This award validates all the many hours of hard work the GreenAllies’ students have put into the Althouse Arboretum for our community,” according to Ken Hamilton, the organization’s executive director. “It also recognizes the unique partnership,” between GreenAllies and Upper Pottsgrove Township, “that it takes to make this all happen,” Hamilton adds.
The arboretum was created through an agreement between the township and the Althouse family to permanently preserve its property for use as an outdoor activity center. In 2025, nearly a decade later, those early efforts are expected to result in more than 20,000 user visits by year’s end.
“We are so thankful to be honored by this award,” Leadership Team member Haley Harner agrees.
Additionally, Althouse has received Level 1 arboretum accreditation from ArbNet. It functions as a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation, and also features a “Pollinator Friendly Garden” that is Master Gardener-certified by Penn State Extension.
Protecting Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources
The winning projects showcase their ability to work collaboratively to preserve and protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources,” DEP Acting Secretary Shirley observes.
Award applications were evaluated for their degree of environmental protection, innovation, partnership, economic impact, consideration of climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice, as well as outcomes achieved.
Photos by Travels With The Post
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