Watershed Ed, Trees and MWEEs: How to Use i-Tree Design in Schools?

Here's how to link tree study in schools to education about watersheds, using the online i-Tree Design tool to calculate ecosystem services of trees.  i-Tree is a suite of online tools developed by the USDA Department of Forestry, Davey Trees, Casey Trees and many other public and private partners.

This project-based learning using trees for watershed ed and civic engagement is spot on for Middle School students and fits with the state-mandated Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) for all students.

Watershed Ed, Trees and MWEEs (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences) Using i-Tree Design from MaryVanDyke

Click here for an i-Tree Design factsheet http://www.itreetools.org/resources/content/iTree_Design_Fact_Sheet.pdf

There are Four Easy Steps for using i-Tree Design http://www.itreetools.org/design.php:

1.  Where are you?  Type in your street address

2.  Draw the outline of building of interest (house, school etc

- Add approx. building date

3. Add in your tree’s data:

 - Species

 - Circumference or diameter

 - Health condition

 - Exposure to sunlight

Place your tree on the map

Repeat with other trees

4. Estimate your current and future tree benefits - the ecosystem services over 1-99 years.
  

It's that simple.

Try it today....at http://www.itreetools.org/design.php

Resources
My Tree and Forestry Resources for using i-Tree Design in Schools including worksheets for 6-8 grade in Spanish and English are at http://goo.gl/GuX5f