Casey Trees’ Summer Crew program successfully completed its tenth season on August 12, with crew members surpassing their tree watering goal and breaking the record of trees watered set by last year’s crew. Crew members logged 6,202 “tree touches” — the number of trees crew members care for — shattering last year’s record of 4,510 touches.
The Summer Crew program employs Washington, D.C.-area high school students to care for young trees in the District for eight weeks. General responsibilities include watering, weeding, mulching, tracking tree condition and educating the public about basic tree care.
The program set another record: seven of the 10 students were female, a change from the male-dominant pattern of past years — a total of 40 females and 61 males have participated in the program.
“The summer crew program teaches young adults about urban forestry and it’s great to see so many young women engaged”, said Sara Turner, urban forestry manager.
By requiring crew members to work directly with various kinds of trees, the high school summer crew program engages its participants in ways a classroom might not.
“I’ve never really noticed trees before this job,” said Na’Quesha Taylor, a senior from Theodore Roosevelt High School, “even the ones outside my house. It has opened my eyes.”