Time to Branch Out!

So I recently planted a tree.

I love trees but had never planted one in my own yard. Usually I am focused on saving neighborhood trees — especially those being choked by invasive vines. Because of this interest, I ended up at a meeting of the Arlington Tree Action Group (opens in a new window), a movement of citizens working to preserve and grow Arlington, Virginia’s urban forest. In addition to learning from this group of volunteers about actions to take to protect our tree canopy, I also received a three-foot-tall American hornbeam for planting.

There’s so much to read and learn about when you are planting a tree! And we did just that, along with a good bit of digging. Now, we are faithfully watering and monitoring, hoping that our little tree thrives. Planting a tree with kids is a wonderful way to help them connect with nature, but there are also many other meaningful ways to root them in the natural world — no shovel required.

This summer Start with a Book (opens in a new window) is offering a new reading adventure toolkit all about trees! Tree Trekkers (opens in a new window) combines hands-on activities with high-quality children’s fiction and nonfiction, engaging media, writing prompts, and opportunities for outdoor learning — all designed to help kids explore, understand, and connect with the trees that surround them and sustain us all.

Trees are everywhere, yet we often pass them by without a second thought. But we need trees — and we need kids to see the trees in their communities as more than just a shady spot or a challenge to climb. The Tree Trekkers toolkit invites them to look more closely, learn deeply, and appreciate the vital role trees play in our world.

Tree Trekkers is great for families — think DIY camp — and for afterschool and summer learning programs but can also be adapted and used just about anywhere with kids aged 5-10. Tree Trekker activities will get kids both out of doors and into books for learning adventures.

Here’s what you’ll find

Tree ID and Anatomy

Kids learn how to identify which trees live around them, which will help them to better understand their own environment and how to care for the planet. Activities include: 

• Parts of a Tree Scavenger Hunt
• Field Guide Fun

Tree Biology

Learning about the life cycle of trees can help kids understand the roles trees play in the ecosystem throughout their lives, the benefits and products trees provide, and how human activities impact a tree’s life cycle. Activities include: 

• Act Out and Diagram Tree Life Cycle
• Craft a Wood Product

Green Shield: The Forest Ecosystem

Kids explore the important role trees and forests play in providing homes for other plants and animals and in protecting our planet. Activities include: 

• Layers of the Forest Diorama
• Carbon Capture Demonstration

Creative Roots: Connecting Trees to Art and History

Kids reflect on what they’ve learned about trees, or the questions they still have about them, to explore art and make their own. Activities include: 

• Poetree: Tree-Inspired Writing
• Artis-tree: Celebrating Community Trees with Sculpture

Tree Stewardship

Kids generate ideas for educating others about tree benefits and ways they can protect and save trees. Activities include: 

• Take a Tree Inventory
• Talking Up Trees

There are also suggestions for how to Branch Out! and explore trees outside, as well as plenty of “Tree-sources” to help Tree Trekkers build and expand their knowledge about trees.

In this space, we’ll be hearing from authors, parents, forest rangers and others throughout the summer about their experiences with trees. Leaf it to us this summer to point you to engaging activities and helpful resources that will help you push past the tree line and bring fresh, exciting learning to your home or classroom.

Let’s seize that special something in the summer air and start trekking (opens in a new window)!

Resources

• Start with a Book: Tree Trekkers (opens in a new window)
• Start with a Book children’s books and activities: Nature: Our Green World (opens in a new window)
• Reading Rockets: Reading Adventure Pack: The Lorax
• Imagination Soup: Inspiring and Informative Children’s Tree Books (opens in a new window)
• Virginia Tech Dendrology: vTree app (opens in a new window)