After 10 years of planting trees with Canadian Camping Association campers, The ChariTree Foundation is growing its #environmentaleducation reach

A Tree for Every Child program provides trees for children to plant at summer camps and schools. Over the years, The ChariTree Foundation has supported children’s tree planting projects across Canada, in Nepal and in various countries in Africa.

The ChariTREE Foundation just completed 10 TREE-mendous years of planting trees with Canadian Camping Association / Association des camps du Canada campers!

“Thanks to all CCA campers, staff and volunteers and of course the remarkable Catherine Ross, my mentor from Camp Mi-A-Kon-Da ~ who all worked together to plant thousands of trees across Canada over the last ten summers,” said Andrea Koehle Jones, Founder, The ChariTree Foundation.

She says she plans to take a break from this tree planting project to dig into a few new national and international kids climate action, food and water development projects by partnering with a new bigger charity she will help launch in 2019.

A Tree for Every Child 

In the past ten years, more than 100,000 children (closer to 119,000) had the opportunity to plant a tree at a summer camp across Canada, participating in a ground-breaking national children’s environmental education project called the Tree for Every Child program.

“Thank you again for this great initiative. Wonderful idea, and a hit with our campers,” said Miles Villneff, Assistant Director, Onondaga Camp.

This hands-on Tree for Every Child project was created by Andrea Koehle Jones as a fun way to get kids outside, teach them to plant trees and care about something beyond themselves. “I’m so happy kids had the opportunity to learn more about trees and their contribution in the world,” Koehle Jones said. “I love projects that educate and empower kids to know that they can help make the world a better place. I am thankful for CCA’s support and all camp staff that helped out ~ and I’m especially proud of every child that planted a tree.”

“It is amazing to see seedlings that we had planted two years ago thriving and growing all over our property,” said- Meg Doherty, Camp Ekon.

Next Steps

The ChariTree Foundation is expanding its environmental education reach by helping to send kids to camps and schools with environmental education and tree planting programs. In addition, ChariTree will support schools attempting to build outdoor classrooms.

ChariTree is already helping to send inner city classes to Camp Kawartha and Willowgrove’s outdoor education programs as well as helping to send campers who can’t afford camp to Canadian environmental education camps.

Contact Andrea at The ChariTREE Foundation (info@charitree-foundation.org) if your camp or school offers outdoor learning, tree planting, or environmental education programs and is a REGISTERED CANADIAN CHARITY. ChariTree can only donate to other registered Canadian charities.

Some more photos and comments from Camps about CCA-ChariTREE Foundation tree planting program

“We appreciate the gift that you provide which allows us to remind our campers and staff the need to maintain our efforts towards renewable resources. Thank you.” — Jocelyn Palm, Director, Glen Bernard Camp, Sundridge, ON

“Getting the trees each year is a big thrill for our us. I think we have been involved for 5 + years with the program. It was a difficult year with the high heat in the early summer but we did our best to get trees in the ground and established early. It is rewarding to see trees from a few years ago doing well. We are always working to connect our campers with the natural environment, tree planting and clearly helps.”
— Jeff “Capt” Brown, Owner/Director, Camp Otterdale, Lombardy, ON

“There is something magical about the act of planting a tree. It is one of the best ways to foster hope and empowerment for a greener future. Kids love taking part in this meaningful act. Thank you for the opportunity.” — Jacob Rodenburg, Douro Dummer, ON

“The children had a great day outside learning about the trees and how to plant and care for them. As the trees grow, they will provide important habitat and their shade will help maintain a healthy, cool water temperature in Joseph Creek. Thank you ChariTree!” ~ Blue Lake Camp, Cranbrook, BC

“It was a meaningful connection for them and am incredible gift to make concrete change to the site through planting of trees. I know that as those trees grow our staff will be directing reminded about the meaningful work that they did. — Thanks again!” — Sharon Millar, Director, Cave Springs Camp, Beamsville, Ontario