Welcome to PV Woods, a vibrant outdoor learning space where history and nature come alive! Among the many treasures of the Lenape Arboretum are three remarkable heritage trees: the Artemis I Moon Tree, the Penn Treaty Tree, and the Trooper Branden Sisca Memorial Tree. The Artemis I Moon Tree, grown from seeds that journeyed around the Moon aboard NASA’s Artemis I mission, represents the intersection of exploration, science, and environmental stewardship. The Penn Treaty Tree, a descendant of the iconic elm under which William Penn signed a peace treaty with Tammanund and the Lenape people, stands as a living testament to harmony and resilience. The Trooper Branden Sisca Memorial Tree, dedicated to a local hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, serves as a profound symbol of courage, service, and selflessness. Together, these trees inspire visitors to reflect on our shared history, the spirit of heroism, and the boundless possibilities of discovery and growth.
The Perkiomen Valley School District was chosen by NASA and the US Forest Service to receive an Artemis Moon Tree.
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This unique sweet gum tree, which traveled on a 25-day mission around the moon into deep space before returning to Earth, symbolizes the spirit of exploration and discovery that we strive to instill in our students.
PVSD is among a very select group of governmental bodies, private industries, universities, and K-12 institutions across the nation to receive such an honor. This Moon Tree is planted on the grounds of Middle School East, in a prominent location next to the trailhead kiosk at PV Woods- Lenape Arboretum, providing a lasting reminder of the possibilities that lie beyond our planet.
This American Elm Tree Lokanëhunshi is a 4th generation direct descendent of the very ancient Treaty Elm Tree Naxkùntëwakàn Lokanëhunshi in Shackamaxon (Fishtown) that Tammanund and William Penn met under in 1682 to sign the Great Treaty. The Lenape term Shackamaxon means “To make a chief or king place”. Gifts were exchanged including wampum belts. One of the
belts depicts William Penn and a Native American shaking hands. Penn promised to live with the Lenape in “openness and love” and as “one flesh and one blood” to which Tammanund replied, “We will live in love with William Penn and his children, while the sun, moon, and stars endure.” Today, the Great Treaty is remembered as a symbol of peace and love.
Sadly, within one generation, William Penn’s own sons cheated the Lenape out of thousands of miles of land through the Walking Purchase which started the process of their forced removal from their ancestral lands.
Benjamin West, Penn’s Treaty with the Indians, 1771-72, oil on canvas, 191.8 x 273.7 cm (Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts)
Our Penn Treaty Tree was generously provided by the Haverford College Arboretum.
