NEW YORK—Forest Service staff headed back to school this spring as the Finger Lakes National Forest kicked off its annual Trees Across New York program.

The team headed back to 14 different schools across Buffalo, Rochester, Ithaca and Syracuse, New York. Bringing with them trees for planting and enthusiasm for what they do, forest staff spent their week with curious third through ninth graders. Staff talked about trees, answered questions, planted trees, answered questions, described their careers, and, of course, answered more questions. “We had a third grader who was curious about how pinecones from different trees burn and her questions expanded from there,” said Briana Graham, public affairs specialist. “What really took me by surprise was her interest in how a researcher might go about finding the answers to those questions.”

Trees Across New York began in 2015, with a brief hiatus following the pandemic, and has traditionally been held the week between Earth Day and Arbor Day. A former Finger Lakes National Forest employee, Tim Noon, started the program and District Ranger Jodie Vanselow has kept it going. She says it’s not enough to hope the public visits the forest, it’s equally important for us to go them.

“Forest Service staff doesn’t spend a lot of time in the cities, we’re in the forest,” said Vanselow. “But it’s our responsibility as public servants to serve the whole public, to get out to those urban areas and let folks know we are here. What better place to start than in the schools?”

While Vanselow considers it her responsibility to get out of the forests and into schools, she says the real kudos goes to the teachers who have made it their mission to introduce students to a world outside of the classroom.
“We can’t just walk onto a school and plant a tree,” said Vanselow. “It’s the teachers who work us into their plans, encourage their students to ask questions and keep the conversation going after we leave. It’s an honor to be included in the work they do.”

The program continued its success in the area, connecting with over 1,000 kids this year.