The Tree Guardians program is a Heritage Conservancy initiative that focuses on exciting hands-on learning opportunities, taking kids out of the classroom and into the woods to help identify, protect, and track the growth of the forest’s next generation of trees.

In partnership with Keystone Elementary in the Bristol Township School District, we work with students as part of an environmental education partnership. Participating students explore Heritage Conservancy’s Croydon Woods Nature Preserve. This protected coastal plain forest is adjacent to their school grounds and hosts an outdoor classroom available year round as an outdoor space for students to learn and participate in a variety of programs.

As Tree Guardians, the fourth graders work with our educators to identify and protect important plants from deer over-browsing, allowing the trees and shrubs to grow to maturity and contribute to a healthy forest growth cycle.

Heritage Conservancy’s expert land stewards identify and tag seedlings which are typically less than a foot tall. These “baby trees” that have naturally taken root are far more likely to survive than if humans tried transplanting commercially grown trees. Furthermore, they were strategically selected to favor plants in conditions that made them more likely to survive, such as not being in direct competition with another nearby tree or shrub.

Students are then taught about the characteristics as well as fun facts about the plants they are protecting which include varieties such as Willow Oak, American Beech, Spice Bush, Highland Blueberry, Black Oak, and more. The students work with teachers and educators to install protective deer fencing around these young trees. Afterward, they periodically return to their trees and shrubs to document changes and report on their growth. They also mentor 2nd-grade partners, taking them into the woods to learn about their tree and the importance of forest regeneration.

The program was initiated in 2023 and continues to be received well by the participating teachers and students. In conjunction with the Tree Guardians program, Heritage Conservancy also hosts a number of other hands-on learning opportunities to get kids into the woods and curious about nature. These include programs that incorporate learning about conservation, their local watershed, and even bird migration thanks to the recent installation Heritage Conservancy made of a Motus wildlife tracking tower on the school’s roof. 

We’re proud of the impact these activities have made on our youth and are happy to hear student feedback such as one proclaiming “This is the best day of my life!”

Learn more about Croydon Woods Nature Preserve.

This program was supported by the National Recreation Foundation.