Tree Heritage Program (NA-97-0313)

A program to bridge heritage trees with the urban forest of the future.

After two ice storms and a "Microburst," the residents of Watertown, NY, especially the children, had become very up close and personal with their trees. Downed power lines, damaged roofs and blocked roads were often caused by a downed tree. The resulting landscape looked like a toothless mouth grinning bleakly. Residents on in years remembered those old trees as friends from childhood. Youngsters lost shade and a place to play. A common thread — the urban forest, connected these generations. To help bridge the gap, the "Tree Heritage" program was developed which hoped to bring the memories of seniors together with youth to learn about our urban forest and celebrate the memories of by-gone days. The program also focused on the trees of the future in a properly planned and managed urban forest.

To reach the goal of making a connection between seniors and youth, a great audience to work with was found in two local parochial schools in Watertown, NY - Holy Family and Sacred Heart. These two schools had all the ingredients: senior teachers who knew some of the history of the site, the appropriate age children, and a property that had trees and room for more. With the help of the Tree Watertown Committee, instructors were secured to man and teach five learning stations — Planting Trees, What Eats a Tree?, How Trees Benefit Our Yard, The History of Trees At Our School and Watertown, and Which Tree Am I and Where Should I be Planted?. A total of 116 youth and approximately 10 teachers were reached with these educational sessions.Twenty-four trees were planted at the two schools in conjunction with the educational program. Students, with input from their senior teachers, then produced a "Heritage Book" with information about the trees that were once there, photos, stories and other artifacts that may help tell the story of their urban trees.

Attachments

Click here to open/view/print or download the Final Grant Report for this project