Trees New York’s educational programs increase students’ environmental literacy, enrich their civic engagement and give them a competitive academic edge.
The objective of Trees New York’s Youth Environmental Literacy Programs is to raise students’ awareness of environmental issues while advancing their reading, language and investigative skills. Students are educated and mobilized to become advocates for and stewards of the urban environment through service-learning projects that improve their communities.
Our partner schools receive a menu of workshop, lecture, and stewardship activity options. Students gain an understanding of the urban forest versus a natural forested environment through topics such as tree biology, tree identification, and tree maintenance, as well as environmental challenges such as the urban heat island effect and combined sewage overflow. The curriculum compliments teachers’ lessons, Next Generation Science Standards, and grade-level appropriate topics to NYC Public Schools.
The Youth Environmental Literacy Program provides students with the unique opportunity to learn outdoors and with your support Trees New York will expand our tree stewardship and tree planting activities with our students.
Trees New York offers the following six lessons to choose from which include:
1. BENEFITS & CHALLENGES: An introductory course for all first-time partnering schools
2. TREE IDENTIFICATION WALK: Students learn to identify street tree species around their school
3. TREE STEWARDSHIP: Students learn while actively caring for their school’s nearby trees
4. URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: Students learn about NYC’s urban heat and heat vulnerability
5. INVASIVE SPECIES SEMINAR: Students learn about invasive species that have impacted NYC
6. TREE PLANTING SIMULATION: Students become tree care professionals for the day
Our newly updated curriculum complements teachers’ lessons for grades 3-12 and aligns with Next Generation Science Standards. If your school is interested in participating, please fill out our 2025 – 2026 school year interest form and browse our fall lesson menu here. In fall 2025, our priorty is to work with Bronx schools and after school programs but schools from all five boroughs are welcome to apply!
