TreeWise Summer Youth Program

TreeWise is Casey Trees’ nature-and place-based summer education program, developed to get youth ages 6-10 outdoors and foster appreciation and understanding of trees through fun, hands-on activities. All summer youth programs located within 25 miles of our headquarters are eligible to request a TreeWise session for your program. Activities focus on tree biology and care and include scavenger hunts, leaf and bark rubbings, tree identification, measurement and watering exercises and more. All activities are tailored to be age and/or grade appropriate. Sessions take place outside rain or shine with the exception of lightning and severe weather. Summer 2013 sessions will run from June 24 to July 19 at your youth program site and July 22 to August 9 at the U.S. National Arboretum. There are a limited number of TreeWise sessions available so they will be filled on a first come first serve basis. Once they are filled you are welcome to sign up your program to be put on a waiting list.

Requirements

Applicants must have an organized summer youth program and coordinate a date and time with us to participate. To create an effective learning environment:

• Each session is limited to 25 youth participants. Programs with a greater number of youth can host multiple workshops during the same or later date.
• Three adult chaperones must be present throughout the activity or lesson to provide assistance with the activities.
• Each session must be targeted at a different group of youth participants (three sessions per day).

Since trees are incorporated into all of our activities, your summer program site must have, or be in close proximity to a green space, including park, playground or street trees. Our second round of  sessions from July 22 to August 9 will take place at the U.S. National Arboretum in northeast D.C. Additionally, youth must be willing and have permission to get a little dirty.

Request a TreeWise Session

To request TreeWise to work with your summer youth program participants, complete and submit an online application.

Apply for TreeWise held at your own youth program location (June 24 to July 19)

TreeWise can visit your site and provide 3 one hour sessions from 9 a.m. to noon. Each session will work with a different group of 25 youth from ages 6 to 10. You should organize each session by grade or age and have 3 adult chaperones available for each session.

Apply for TreeWise at the U.S. National Arboretum (July 22 to August 9)

Our second round of TreeWise sessions will be held at the National Arboretum.  We can accommodate one group of 50 youth and 6 adult chaperones. Groups will be required to provide their own transportation to the Arboretum. Camp will be from 9 a.m. to noon and will require adult chaperones to stay for the duration of the program.