Junior Arborist

Creating a Generation of Teens Connected to Trees

Junior Arborist Apprenticeship Program

Our junior arborist apprenticeship program focuses on students 13 to 19 years old. The field and classroom training are designed to acquaint students with the opportunities and careers within the broad and expanding field of arboriculture. The program has been designed with advice and direct involvement by university faculty partnerships and industry professionals. The level of involvement and hands-on activities are structured differently based upon the age group of the apprentices.

Junior Arborist training includes but not limited to 1) How trees grow; 2) How to identify native trees; 3) How to inventory trees; 4) Tree care; 5) Tree roots; 6) Tree pruning; 7) Tree removal; 8) Tree climbing; 9) Tree planting; and 10) Soil management. All content is in alignment with National Generation Science Standards and relate to science content standards such as 8th and 9th grade Life Science MS-LS1-1 and HS-LS1-1.

With studies from Penn State University and Tree Care Industry Association, hands-on learning opportunities offer participating students access to a wealth of knowledge for the rapidly growing tree care industry. Students can expect to build lasting relationships, obtain Student International Society of Arboriculture membership, and become a Mauget Certified Applicator. All are enormous accomplishments, benefits, and experiences as college career choices, climate change, canopy coverage, and native tree recovery become ever more important to current students and future generations. Get started today with free TCIA training.

Students Learning All About Arboriculture

During Summer 2022, CITYGREEN had the opportunity and outright pleasure to educate, elevate, empower, and engage eight Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, (MBSYEP) participants, two who have rejoined our new program under the DC Career and Technical Education Advanced Internship Program, also called DC CTE AIP. The DC CTE AIP is offered to District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter School students. With a total of ten students from four different high schools, we are extremely excited about the opportunity to work with this group, with a goal of positioning them to be the beacon on the hill for students searching for other options after high school.

The 2022 cohort is the first of this decade, but the second of its kind. In 2009, a cohort of youth were assembled from street corners and basketball courts to learn about tree removal and urban forestry. Now, twelve years later it feels good to dust off carabiners, harnesses, and ropes for a renewed opportunity to offer young people the ability to explore an industry in need of diversity, new ideas, and talent. Apart of a joint venture to provide emergency tree removal services to the District's Urban Forestry Administration, the first cohort of junior arborist laced up their boots in the early Spring of 2009 and unlaced them in the early Fall of 2009. The joint-venture was short lived due to one major change within the contact regarding equipment, which uniquely disqualified us from continuing past the base years.

At any rate, as in 2009, and now again in 2022, the Arboriculture Pre-Apprenticeship program is designed for students who face barriers to traditional employment, have little-to-no knowledge or experience in tree care, and or will consider an arboriculture apprenticeship or employment after completion. The program will focus on the field of arboriculture, creating pathways to eliminating structural joblessness, reducing crime and violence through community-based tree plantings, inspiring students to pursue environmental careers, and most importantly, positioning students to become certified, qualified, and recognized environmental advocates and stewards within their community.