Plant Seeds. Grow Leaders. Create Change.
The Legacy Tree Project is a school-based native tree program. Students grow trees from seed and learn by doing the work to grow and plant those trees back in their community.
Grow native trees. Plant them where they're needed.
Students do real environmental work. They plant seeds, grow native trees, learn by doing, care for living things and see their work improve the places around them.
The long-term model is built to support different states, regions, schools, climates, tree species, growing seasons, growing cycles, planting destinations, community needs and environmental purposes.
Built around students doing environmental work.
This section is being developed. We are building it from our approved content library.
A school-based environmental education, tree-growing, youth leadership and community restoration network.
This section is being developed. We are building it from our approved content library.
A three-year model
Students plant the seeds that begin the Legacy Tree cycle. With a 14–18 month growing period, the trees they start will be cared for and carried forward by the students who come after them. The first class leaves its legacy by starting something another class will continue. While their trees are growing, students take part in a field experience that connects what they are doing at school to the places their trees can one day support.
Students plant the next round of seeds for the incoming class while taking part in their first restoration project, planting the trees that were started and cared for by the students before them. They carry one legacy forward while beginning the next.
Students plant seeds for the next incoming class, receive the trees grown by the class before them, and plant those trees in a new restoration project. They also monitor and report on the trees planted in Year 2, learning that restoration doesn’t end when a tree goes into the ground.
The school moves into the Legacy Tree Network. The Legacy Tree Project provides continuing education, teacher training, classes and online resources so each school has what it needs for leadership and support. Schools take more responsibility for keeping their trees growing and keeping the program going.