A few Wednesdays ago, the students of the second annual Green Tree Academy training program seemed oblivious to the blazing summer sun as they groomed trees on a narrow street in South City.
Their minds and bodies were focused on the task at hand as they dangled from one story up, implementing the tips and tools they learned through the program.
In its second year, the program introduces young people (ages 18-24) who live in the city to a career in the field of aboriculture and hortiriculture – or working with trees, in laymen’s terms.
“What we are trying to do is provide framework, the skill base and promote life skills regarding how to succeed in the workplace,” said LaTaunia Wilder, program coordinator for A Green Tree Academy.
Ten students started in a classroom learning to identify the different types of trees and, over a 10-week period, graduated into working side-by-side with professionals in the field.
For A Green Tree Academy, a new year translated into new partnerships for the program and new opportunities for the students.
For the class of 2008, the program joined forces with Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Community College at Meramec (in addition to its partners from the pilot program, the Comptroller’s Office, Department of Forestry, SLCC-Forest Park, state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Living Tree Care, Inc., Forestry Consultant Services, Droege Tree Care, Inc., Pasta House and Pepsi).
The students were allowed rare access to the Garden as their own personal education center, interviewing supervisors and using the grounds as a plant-identification area.
The support from Meramec and the Garden also offered an opportunity for higher learning through a two-year scholarship that would allow eligible students to continue their study of the hoboriculture/aboriculture field.
“It is inspiring to me – and, more importantly, our students,” said Comptroller Darlene Green, whose office initiated and oversees the program. “Because of A Green Tree Academy, these 10 men and women will seek jobs in the tree-trimming industry, apply for college scholarships and go to college to study horiculture.”
It’s more than just about the trees. A Green Tree Academy offered life-skills training and professional-development sessions to the students on a weekly basis, as well as job training that focused on the importance of teamwork and efficiency.
“When you are working on a tree crew, there are three people – it’s not you by yourself,” said Bruce Vawter, adjunct professor of aboriculture at SLCC-Meramec and instructor for A Green Tree Academy.
“Everybody is contributing, based on experience, knowledge and ability. You can’t sit back and let the others do it – it won’t get done.”
The ripple of impact regarding their newfound knowledge about the importance of proper environmental care was evident early in the sessions.
“Even in the first two or three weeks, students would come back into their neighborhoods and talk about it with their families and spread it into the community,” Vawter said. “St. Louis is one of the most heavily forested areas in the country, and when you’re optimizing trees you provide a much better environment to live under.”
While the program is scheduled to continue next year, with the application process beginning at the end of 2008, Wilder says that the program is in need of funding.
According to Vawter, the payoff of A Green Tree Academy is evident as St. Louis works to jion the global effort to become more environmentally aware.
“As we get people more involved in the green industry, there will be people that are going to be involved in their neighborhood, Vawter said.
“They’ll see things that have to take place and will be doing some in their neighborhood – even if it is as simple as going to Grandma’s house to plant trees.”
For more information about the A Green Tree Academy Program, visit http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/comptroller/greentreeacademy.html or call (314) 890-1835.
