Officially launched in October 2007 by New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, MillionTreesNYC is a citywide, public-private initiative with an important and ambitious goal: to plant and care for one million new trees across the city’s five boroughs by 2017. A priority of PlaNYC – Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s long-term sustainability blueprint – MillionTreesNYC brings many environmental, health, social and economic benefits to city life.
MillionTreesNYC is also introducing students and adults to public education campaigns that promote tree planting and stewardship, inviting New Yorkers of all ages to get involved in this citywide initiative. The New York City Parks Department, NYRP, the New York City Department of Education and respected environmental educators have developed innovative community and school-based education programs that promote greater awareness and stewardship of the city’s urban forest.
NYRP’s RespecTree program is designed for schools that have space to plant 10 or more trees across their campus and have a middle school (i.e., fourth-, fifth- or sixth-grade) class or after-school program interested in participating in a three-month, six-session program that incorporates life and earth science standards and involves students in the design, planting and care of a greener schoolyard.
Throughout the course of the school year, students are led by NYRP and partner public school and community-based educators in a series of lessons and individual assignments that teach them the role of trees in urban communities and empower them to identify, actualize and maintain tree-planting and greening opportunities in their schoolyard or playground. Students participate in a range of activities and field trips that investigate the impact of plantings surrounding their school on water systems, air quality and human and animal life. The session culminates in a schoolyard planting day and celebration, which includes lessons for long-term tree care and maintenance.
NYRP has partnered with Children for Children – a non-profit organization that mobilizes the energy, ingenuity and compassion of young people to discover their power and potential to solve real world problems – to design and implement our Talkin’ Trees program. Talkin’ Trees provides an opportunity to educate an entire student body about the importance of trees and tree stewardship without committing to year-round classroom learning.
Designed for schools that have space to plant 10 or more trees across their campus, this tree-planting opportunity targets junior high and high school campuses, incorporating student participation thorough both school body and after-school programs. For participating schools, Children for Children or NYRP educators will conduct a 60-minute assembly – the Talkin’ Trees Game Show – to introduce the student community to the MillionTreesNYC initiative; review the environmental, health, social and economic benefits of the city’s urban forest; and discuss the importance of tree stewardship and long-term care. The assembly culminates by sharing specific action steps – the MillionTreesNYC Pledge – for how the school, the student community and their families can get directly involved in the MillionTreesNYC campaign by planting and caring for trees at school, at home or in their community.
To learn more about additional MillionTreesNYC youth education programs, click here.