About the Program
Speak for the Trees’ 2023 Summer Teen Urban Tree Corps program was once again filled with joy, vitality, and growth. Building on previous years’ successes and learnings, the program centered around caring for the street trees of Dorchester, while also providing the participants with opportunities to learn, explore career opportunities, and develop outreach activities.
Program Highlights
Care for the Street Trees in Boston’s Dorchester Neighborhood
The teens worked in small groups to water more than 200 trees each week along specific routes. During the first week teens mulched the trees, improving the compacted soil’s capacity to absorb water, reducing evaporation, and providing nutrients to the trees.
Learning and Career Exploration
- Each week the youth learned about different topics, including urban forestry, tree biology, green infrastructure and urban planning, tree care, tree management, and urban ecosystems.
- The teens went on field trips led by urban forestry professionals and met guest speakers who shared their career paths and work experiences. These opportunities introduced the TUTC participants—predominantly youth of color—to the field of urban forestry.
Active Role in Outreach Activities
In 2023 for the first time, the teens planned and conducted outreach work, sharing information about TUTC and the importance of urban trees with Dorchester residents. Full information is available in the reports below.
Reports
For further details about the program, the teens, partners and supporters, please see linked reports below.
