Tree Guardian Program

The Tree Guardian Program was born initially out of a desire to make Wright Street more visually attractive by planting trees.
A number of residents in the neighbourhood, as well as the Parks Department, believed that mischievous behaviour and vandalism by kids would put the trees at risk, if not completely destroy them. If this was in fact a potential problem we needed a solution to the problem.
We decided the best solution was to get the kids in the neighbourhood to become custodians of the trees, and with the generous support of the Saint John Parks and Recreation Dept. the Tree Guardian Program was born.
During the spring of each year kids in the neighbourhood between the ages of 6 and 14 interested in becoming Tree Guardians fill out an applications. Successful applicants sign an agreement (it all sounds very legal but the agreement is not binding) that which explains his or her responsibilities as a guardian, a tree is assigned to each guardian and the program is under way.

A panel of three judges reviews the trees and tree sites on a date in September post-Labour Day. Based on the results of the judging, cash prizes are awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, with all guardians receiving a certificate in recognition for their effort and commitment.

The Tree Guardian Program results have exceeded our expectations. Many of the guardians have enlisted the help of their bothers, sisters and parents. We have watched interest in the program grow over the past seven years; the trees continue to grow and bloom, but the more significant growth has been seen in the kids. Most kids, in an effort to produce the “best site”, have begun to dig up the soil at the base of the trees and have planted flowers. They are also applying the creative use of bricks and stone to define the border.

Although the kids, like the trees, are growing physically we are also witnessing a less visible growth, character growth. The kids are developing a greater sense of responsibility, work ethic, and personal and community pride. Too often communities-and we as individuals-don’t always give “character growth” the attention it deserves.

Ultimately these kids hold the key to our community’s future. If we reflect on our own lives, we will often remember small positive events that have been responsible for establishing the foundation for our attitudes and the direction for our futures.

These kids are, in many ways, like the trees they have adopted: if they are encouraged and nurtured they will grow to become the most valuable assets in our community.

Should you like to begin a Tree Guardian Program in your neibourhood, please contact us for more information.

To start Tree Guardian Program, you need to download and fill out these documents:

1. Tree Guardian Application

2. Tree Guardian Agreement

3. Tree Assigment Notice

4. Tree Guardian Tags

5. Judging Notice

6. Judge Sheet

Tree Guardian Certificate

Animals of the Acadian Forest

Plants of the Acadian Forest

Low Impact Forestry Photos