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Three Trees and a River Project


water samplingThe Three Trees and a River Project is a series of field trips, overnight camping trips, and Action Projects for schools and youth organizations designed to connect students to the outdoors, to raise an awareness of water issues affecting Colorado, and to help them understand the importance of native trees to the Colorado ecosystem.

Each project includes 5 days of programming spread throughout the school year:

  • 1-Day World Water Monitoring Day field trip with Front Range Earth Force along the South Platte River in Denver: To get students outside of the classroom, raise their awareness of local water issues, and offer specific solutions they can implement to help prevent water pollution.
  • 2-Day Overnight Camping Trip in the fall: To practice the skills necessary to comfortably and competently explore the outdoors, to learn about 3 native trees in Colorado, and to develop leadership, teambuilding, and communication skills.
  • 2-Day Native Tree Planting Project, Overnight Camping Trip, and Rafting Trip in the spring: To complete a 1-day service project with the Garden Club of Denver and the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield to help plant 3 native trees, learn why native trees are important to the Colorado ecosystem, and to connect students to the outdoors. The project will conclude with a ½-day rafting trip on the South Platte River with City Wild to reconnect students to the importance of solving water issues in Colorado and to celebrate their accomplishments throughout the year.

Our Three Trees and a River Project is an excellent example of how nonprofit organizations, schools, and youth organizations can collaborate together to deliver an inspiring program that empowers students to help protect and preserve the environment and inspire them to become life-long environmental stewards.

We would like to thank all of our 2009 partners, especially: the REI Denver Flagship Store, Front Range Earth Force,  Gilpin E-8 Montessori School, the Garden Club of Denver, Denver Botanic Gardens, and City Wild for piloting and funding this project.

If you would like to learn more about this project or if you have a group interested in participating next year, please contact Ford Church at 303.447.1076. To support this project, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today by Clicking Here!

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