Trees are the charismatic super-flora which tower over us in many landscapes – including urban. Many children love to climb trees, and Team Tree aims to support and nurture the relationship youth have with the trees in their community. Through a variety of educational opportunities and experiences which include climbing, tree biology and identification, and creative projects, Team Tree seeks to inspire young people to learn more about trees and the work that goes into keeping them happy and healthy in urban environments.
Team Tree offers many different options for engagement, including in-person, virtual, and self-guided learning experiences.
Learn more about the opportunities we offer here, and contact [email protected] with any questions about our programming.
More Information
Education Outreach
School Visits
Team Tree staff visit classrooms to introduce tree science and urban forestry through engaging, creative, and age-appropriate activities. Our educational outreach is designed for students ages 5–18, with curriculum tailored to each group’s developmental level. In addition to interactive lessons, we offer hands-on activities and crafts that reinforce learning. Presentations can also be customized to focus on the specific topics you’d like your students to explore.
Click here to view Team Tree's School Visit Planning Guide:
Topic ideas
- Tree identification
- Tree diseases/pests
- Urban forestry benefits
- Trees and wildlife
- Dichotomous keys
Activity Ideas
- Leaf printing & cyanotypes
- Build-your-own tree rings (climate history)
- Nature journaling & zine-making
- Wood cookie painting
- Seed bomb making
- Tree storytelling and comics
- Nature bracelets
- Tree identification walks
- Scavenger hunts
- Mapping trees in an area
If you are interested in Team Tree visiting your school, please reach out to Marissa at [email protected]
Climbing Experiences
Summer Climbing Camp
Participants will have the opportunity to climb like professional arborists on systems similar to those used in the field.
For an introduction to climbing, we provide climbing systems, saddles, and PPE to participants. Everything is set up, and all climbing systems will be checked by qualified individuals. This is meant to be a low pressure way to experience climbing into the canopy of a tree, and exploring.
Ground Activities
Ground Activities
During climbing camp, there are also activities on-the-ground to engage participants in tree stewardship and science while some of the group is climbing. These activities enrich the experience by providing cool-down periods full of creative learning opportunities.
- Self-guided field book
- Tree Yoga
- Knot tying
- Dendrology walk
- Tree Painting
- Nursery tours
- The Fungus Among Us
- Nature Art
- Tied in Slackline
- Pinecone Throwball
Educational Materials
Educational Materials
Learning about trees and their place in our world is something you can do at home, as well. Here we have some of our self-guided educational materials that we use for events and outreach.
Funding is provided the USDA Forest Service, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Additional funding provided by:
Minnesota Society of Arboriculture
Minnesota Turf & Grounds Foundation
Thank You Volunteers & Staff!
The skilled volunteers and staff truly make Team Tree a success - THANK YOU!