The TREE Program

Program Type: 
Garden Classrooms
Grade Level/Age Group: 
Upper Elementary, Lower Elementary, Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten
Number of Individuals Program Serves: 
500
Year Founded: 
2012
About the Program: 

The TREE Program's mission is to promote Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, and Envirnomental Health of Veterans and Youth through reconnecting to nature's wisdom and understanding.

The TREE Program grows community roots through cultivating nature’s wisdom and understanding to revitalize our returning Veterans and "at risk" youth to become the Leaders of Tomorrow.

The TREE Program nurtures Veterans as mentors using the attributes of leadership, goal achievement, integrity and discipline integrated from service to country to promote youth development through building supportive relationships of trust. Sharing and documenting their progress with short films developed with skills through hands-on digital storytelling training of their individual and families “Food Stories”.

The TREE Program promotes service learning projects that engage economic development with innovative solution based approaches to unique dynamics of urban communities by our multi-generational proactive health Food Ambassadors. Adopting food deserts by sharing garden knowledge and nutrition education with the goal to address the concerns of underserved neighborhoods to provide access to fresh fruit and vegetables that produce healthy eating habits.

The TREE programming is built around the idea that everyone should not just learn the best concept of entrepreneurship - core values of sustainability, conservation, food systems development and community awareness they should get the chance to put it into practice. Thereby impacting and empowering individuals, families, schools appreciation for food from concept to plate.

The TREE Program provides an opportunity for members to engage in entrepreneurial efforts within their school or community to create a self sustaining service or product as Entrepreneurs and Business Owners. Training promotes a unique experience for both “opportunity youth” that are breaking down barriers and Veteran mentors to take an idea of their own and turn it into an actual business that serves their community.