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Each summer, high school students across metro Atlanta join the Youth Tree Team (YTT) at Trees Atlanta, and each year, the program proves it’s about far more than a summer job. It’s a chance for students to build leadership skills, gain hands-on experience in the field, and get a first look at what a future in green careers could look like. Summer 2026 continued that tradition.

This year’s team included 73 students from 40 schools across metro Atlanta. About 31% were returning members, bringing prior experience and leadership to the group. Of the 73 students, 8 graduated from high school this year and are moving on to college or the workforce with hands-on work experience, leadership training, and a deeper understanding of what it means to care for their city.

In The Field

From their first day, students took on the core work of YTT: mulching, watering, identifying plants, and removing invasive species. They worked at Trees Atlanta’s tree nursery, in forests and parks throughout metro Atlanta, and in the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum.

During the 2026 program, the Youth Tree Team:

• Cared for and maintained over 921 trees
• Filled, carried, and spread 897 buckets of mulch
• Delivered 1,126 buckets of water to young trees, totaling 10,850 gallons
• Removed 8.7 acres of invasive plants along the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum
• Maintained 70 acres of Atlanta greenspaces and trails

A Season of Growth and Exploration

Fieldwork was only one part of the summer. This year, students had more opportunities than ever to explore the range of careers within urban forestry and conservation. Several were selected to join external study teams, spending part of their summer with partner organizations including the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Arabia Mountain, and Piedmont Park Conservancy. This year also brought a new partner, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. These off-site placements gave students a firsthand look at how different organizations work together to support nature in an urban environment.

Back with the main crew, returning students in the Leaders In Training (LIT) program took on new responsibilities as peer mentors, modeling professionalism and accountability for their teammates while also taking on additional projects. Each Monday, LITs joined the Downtown Planting crew to care for trees at sites such as Hurt Park and the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum Westside Trail. This year, LITs also had the opportunity to learn about tree nursery maintenance and nonprofit operations.

Leadership extended beyond the LIT program as well. Through the Root Buddies initiative, YTT members guided younger campers from the Junior TreeKeeper Summer Camp, serving as their “bosses” for the day. They led plant ID walks and weeding activities, giving younger students a hands-on introduction to environmental stewardship.

Beyond fieldwork, students built essential life and career skills. Weekly financial literacy workshops were led by Deidra Cox of Community Sustainability Enterprises and Pablo Adamson of Amazon. Enrichment Days introduced students to professional organizations and included trips to the Lifecycle Building Center, the Warnell School of Forestry, the Georgia Forestry Foundation, Atlanta Forest Products, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Each trip highlighted the range of paths available within green-collar careers. Students also had the chance to network with these and other organizations during the YTT Career Discovery Day.

For the second year, Trees Atlanta’s high school education program, Project ACER (Atlanta Canopy Education & Research), was led by Youth Education Coordinator Marley Kern.  Through the program, students learned tree identification procedures, data collection best practices, and data analysis.

Beyond YTT

As the number of YTT alumni grows each year, Trees Atlanta has the opportunity to see former students take their next steps into conservation careers. This year, Trees Atlanta currently has two former YTT students on permanent staff, with 8 alumni serving in seasonal roles. Other alumni have gone on to study of environmental science at universities across the country, carrying what they learned in the program to their next chapter.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Planning for next summer is already underway! If you know a high school student who is passionate about the environment, interested in exploring green careers, or ready to get hands-on experience serving their city, Youth Tree Team may be the right fit.

Applications for Summer 2027 will open in November 2026. Visit our website for program updates, deadlines, and application details: www.treesatlanta.org/youthtreeteam

Published on: August 4, 2026