Trees Atlanta camp helps children build lifelong connections to nature

A lesson about fallen leaves is changing how some Atlanta children think about the environment.

Seven-year-old Isaac Fulton said he recently learned that leaving leaves on the ground in the fall can provide shelter for wildlife during the winter, a lesson he picked up while attending Trees Atlanta’s Junior TreeKeeper Camp.

The summer program introduces children to Atlanta’s urban forest through a combination of classroom instruction and outdoor exploration. Campers study topics including trees, wildlife, water and soil before putting those lessons into practice in gardens, parks and along the Atlanta Beltline.

For Isaac, the daily bike rides with friends are a highlight of camp, but organizers hope every activity encourages children to see nature in a new way.

Camp counselor Danielle Hogan said the goal is to teach young people about Atlanta’s ecosystem and the nonprofit’s conservation mission while helping them understand why protecting trees matters.

She said trees do much more than beautify neighborhoods. They create shade, improve air quality, provide habitat for wildlife and contribute to healthier communities.

Hogan believes introducing environmental education at an early age helps ensure future generations will continue caring for Atlanta’s green spaces.

Campers also participate in hands-on conservation work, including spreading mulch around trees and exploring local natural areas, giving them a firsthand look at what it takes to maintain an urban forest.

Trees Atlanta has spent more than four decades working to expand and protect the region’s tree canopy. Since its founding in 1985, the nonprofit says it has planted more than 170,000 trees throughout metro Atlanta and remains a partner in the regional One Million Trees Initiative.

Organizers hope the experience extends well beyond summer vacation, giving children the knowledge and confidence to become lifelong advocates for the environment in their own neighborhoods.