Schoolyard Forest Rangers®

K-8 Stewardship Leadership Program

The Schoolyard Forest Rangers® program inspires students to become lifelong environmental stewards by caring for their school ground forests, gardens, wildlife habitats, and outdoor learning spaces. Through hands-on stewardship, scientific observation, and leadership opportunities, students develop responsibility, ecological literacy, and a sense of service to their community. This program is divided into three age-appropriate levels.

Our website also includes an extensive library of resources designed to enable students to learn about the natural world on their school grounds, and become capable schoolyard stewards.

Junior Schoolyard Forest Rangers® (Grades K-2)

The program for the Junior Schoolyard Forest Rangers® in grades K-2 explores the the theme: “Discover and Care.” The young participants engage in activities that help them develop a love for nature by learning to observe, respect, and care for living things. Stewardship responsibilities for this age group includes things such as watering newly planted trees and garden beds, helping to keep their outdoor spaces clean, learning to identify common trees, plants, birds, and insects. Resources for this program include:

• Academic lessons – K-5 Forest Lessons page

• Stewardship lessons – K-5 Stewardship Lessons page

Intermediate Schoolyard Forest Rangers® (Grades 3-5)

The program for the Intermediate Schoolyard Forest Rangers® in grades 3-5 focuses on the theme: “Explore and Steward.” Students in this age group become active caretakers of their school grounds, while developing their scientific thinking skills and a sense of environmental responsibility. Their stewardship responsibilities at this level include things such as measuring tree growth, monitoring tree health, conducting simple biodiversity surveys, helping to maintain pollinator habitats, and monitoring mulch depth and soil moisture. Resources for this program include:

• Academic lessons – K-5 Forest Lessons page

• Stewardship lessons – K-5 Stewardship Lessons page

Senior Schoolyard Forest Rangers® (Grades 6-8)

The Senior Schoolyard Forest Rangers® program for students in grades 6-8 supports older students as they become environmental leaders who can help manage schoolyard stewardship projects and mentor younger students on their learning journey. Stewardship responsibilities for this age group include tasks such as conducting regular forest health inspections, monitoring tree growth and irrigation needs, leading peer groups and younger children in schoolyard stewardship related activities, creating educational signage and outreach materials for their grounds, and helping to plan school-wide events that take place on their school grounds. Resources for this program include:

• Academic lessons – 6-8 Forest Lessons page

• Stewardship lessons – 6-8 Stewardship Lessons page