On January 18, 2024, nearly 50 students from High Tech High took part in a tree planting experience to complement their classroom studies. Working side by side with 11 of our volunteer Tree Stewards and four staff members, the high school students helped plant 12 trees in Pepper Grove on the park’s central mesa. The new climate-friendly trees that were planted include two coast live oaks, five Peruvian peppers, and five tipu trees.

The students’ hands-on learning included discussions about the myriad environmental benefits of a healthy urban tree canopy, such as its role in reducing carbon and other pollutants in the atmosphere and capturing stormwater runoff. 

To facilitate their educational experience, a field study guide was specially designed for them. The guide provides take-home information on tree planting, its many benefits, and details on the three different tree species planted that day. An important goal of the event and the guide is to inspire these students to become the next generation of tree stewards for their communities. The guide itself can be easily adapted for tree planting events Forever Balboa Park holds for youth and other community groups year-round.

The event’s tree planting materials, gardening supplies, and the youth study guide were generously funded by a grant from The Thursday Club.