TreeWise, our youth education program, is a mainstay around here during the summer. But that is not the only time students are out of school and (their parents and caregivers are) looking for creative and fun ways to spend their days. Enter our friends and frequent partner the Urban Adventure Squad and a late February session of TreeWise!
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Above all, the program has three core goals:
- Connect youth in Washington, DC to trees and their local natural resources
- Educate youth on the benefits of having trees in urban environments
- Provide youth – many of whom have little access to the natural world – an opportunity to get outside while increasing awareness of the importance of their natural surroundings
TreeWise lessons covered topics such as basic tree biology and tree ID, tree care, and ecosystem services. Campers learned all about pollinators in DC, and how they could be Junior Urban Foresters. All our campers agreed to “be a friend to trees,” and to share their newfound love of the outdoors with their friends and families.
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The best part about TreeWise? The hands-on fun! Based out of the Casey Trees HQ, our Junior Urban Foresters bopped around Brookland all week studying the basics of tree ID, practicing how to measure street trees, and playing tree-related games.
Overall, our goal is to empower the next generation of tree stewards to continue our hard work. When we empower kids to go outside and play, we are promoting their overall health, all the while developing their appreciation of the natural world that we all must learn to protect and care for. When we empower kids to understand their role in a community of shared space which is what our urban environment is, we are also empowering them to work together, respect and protect that space, and the people who call it home. When we empower kids to go outside and learn, we are also teaching them the skills necessary to become well-rounded future leaders that will understand the value of their environment.
Photo courtesy Urban Adventure Squad.
