Youth Tree Tenders, Growing More Than Trees

CanopyBloomington’s Youth Tree Tender program offers high school students the chance to gain paid, hands-on experience in tree care and urban forestry. Over the course of four weeks, the tenders learn skills directly taught by environmental professionals in the Bloomington community. The tenders learn skills that will prepare them for future opportunities while caring for hundreds of young trees in Switchyard, Lower Cascades, RCA, and Winslow Woods Parks.

This work is done in partnership with the City of Bloomington, which manages thousands of trees across the City. By focusing on Switchyard Park, the tree tenders help to alleviate some of that workload. As part of this agreement, tenders take on tasks like root collar excavation, girdling root removal, mulching, formative pruning, and watering.

Youth Tree Tenders is not just a great way to spend more time outdoors, it also gives teens a closer look at the natural systems around them and the real impact that their teamwork makes in the world. From sessions identifying native plants and trees to using tools safely and practicing proper tree care, the program builds confidence, responsibility, and a strong work ethic rooted in environmental togetherness. The following photos show both our June and July cohorts . Not pictured is Claire Lutz, the Youth Tree Tender Project Coordinator, and Ava Hartman, Canopy's Executive Director, who worked together to run a fantastic 2025 program.

June Cohort. From left to right: Gabe Bonney, Leo Rusch, Giuliana Samarotto, Maddy Waters, Sofia Garcia

July Cohort. From left to right: Madeleine Bovingdon-Friedman, Elliott Freeman, Verl Burton, Rebecca Baxter, Angel Zou

The Youth Tree Tenders program kicked off the season with urban forestry basics. Haskell Smith, Bloomington's Urban Forester, teamed up with Ava Hartman, CanopyBloomington’s Executive Director, to lead an engaging and educational workshop for our tenders. Together, they shared a vault of valuable knowledge about the urban forest ecosystem and the crucial role young trees play in it. Participants learned not only why proper tree care is important, but also how to do it effectively. The skills ranged from identifying common tree species and understanding basic tree biology, to mastering hands-on skills like proper mulching techniques and spotting signs of stress or disease. The workshop emphasized the long-term impact of consistent maintenance and empowered tenders to feel confident in their new roles as tree caretakers.

The tenders met with Bloomington arborist Travis Harding for an in-depth conversation about tree safety and what it really means to step into the role of an arborist. Travis introduced the group to essential skills like tree identification, which not only supports their work in urban forestry, but also lays a foundation for future professional opportunities in environmental science, landscaping, and arboriculture. The tenders also received hands-on instruction in climbing safety, a topic that hit close to home for many. We've all got stories from childhood about getting scraped up in a tree; Travis is here to make sure those stories don’t repeat in a work setting. To wrap things up, he offered a behind-the-scenes look into the life of an arborist, which included everything from responding to storm damage and assessing tree health to ensuring public safety around trees.

The tenders then laced up their boots and made their way to the next learning opportunity: an herbaceous plant identification walk with Sycamore Land Trust. Saige Sentell, Sycamore’s Education Director, took the group along a wooded trail, guiding them through the process of identifying native herbaceous plants and understanding their role within the ecosystem. The tenders learned how to observe key characteristics such as leaf shape, flower structure, and stem texture. They also learned how to use field guides to confidently identify unfamiliar species. Along the way, they discussed the differences between native, non-native, and invasive species, and how plant biodiversity supports healthy habitats. The program ran at Sycamore's Beanblossom Bottoms Nature Preserve and Porter West Preserve.

Sentell also shared the ecological importance of these often overlooked plants, from how they support pollinators and stabilize soil to their cultural and medicinal uses. One of the highlights for the group came when they learned about jewelweed, a pale yellow flower commonly found near bodies of water. Saige explained that allegedly its sap can be used as a natural remedy for stinging nettle. This immersive walk helped deepen the tenders’ observational skills and plant literacy.

The tenders participated in a pruning and resume-building workshop led by Simon Normile. The session began with an introduction to essential pruning tools, including hand pruners, loppers, and hand saws. Simon demonstrated how and when to use each tool safely and effectively, and explained the importance of proper pruning techniques for promoting healthy tree structure and long-term growth. Tenders practiced identifying dead or damaged branches and making clean, intentional cuts.

In addition to the fieldwork, the group had LinkedIn and resume-building sessions focused on translating their new forestry skills into professional experience. Claire Lutz, the Youth Tree Tender Coordinator, walked them through how to describe their work with Canopy in a way that highlights their new skills like, environmental supervision, teamwork, and tool proficiency. By the end of the session, tenders left with stronger resumes, a better understanding of how to talk about their experience, and confidence in both their pruning techniques and their future job applications.

The Youth Tree Tenders program provides high school students meaningful, real world experience that unites environmental responsibility with professional growth. They aren’t just learning about tree care, they are actively contributing to the health of their community while developing skills that apply to a wide range of future potential jobs. Because of the direct mentorship they are receiving, they will be left with lasting professional connections and valuable information about the world around them. Youth Tree Tenders allows young people to navigate one of the most important tools a young adult can have, confidence. This kind of hands-on, purpose-driven work gives them a sense of togetherness, solidifies their value in the community, and shows them that their actions, no matter their age, can have an important impact.

Youth Tree Tenders is part of CanopyBloomington's educational initiatives, which also include tree walks in Bloomington public parks, annual tree planting workshops promoted as Trees 101, a tree-themed book club and other ad hoc programs.