On a rainy day in May, members of the Tree Ambassadors program led by Kenneth Sammond, chair of the Metuchen Shade Tree Commission, were busy digging holes in the ground around the Metuchen Public Library.
After a few hours, they successfully planted four native trees – an American linden, Red Maple, a London Plane, which is a hybrid of an American sycamore and Oriental Plane, and a Honey locust.
As Aaditi Londhe, who is now a Metuchen High School graduate, simply explained, they were planting native trees “so they can help the environment.”
And that is the impetus of the Tree Ambassadors program, which began in 2024.
Originally sponsored by the Metuchen Shade Tree Commission in partnership with the Metuchen Board of Education, the Tree Ambassadors program “strengthens ecological sustainability in our community by increasing youths’ understanding of and direct engagement with the role, needs, and benefits of our trees.”
“In our inaugural year, our program successfully trained and guided seven high school juniors who helped lead classroom sessions and planting of trees at elementary, middle and high schools in our community,” Sammond said.
When brainstorming the creation of the Tree Ambassadors program, “we realized that most of the people that volunteer for the Shade Tree Commission are 40-year-old [people] or older.”
Photos by Kathy Chang – Members of the Tree Ambassadors program planted four native trees around the Metuchen Public Library in May.
“One of the best ways to get more people involved is to get kids involved because kids can get their parents involved and they can advocate on behalf of the trees,” Sammond said.
The students participated in a three-week session of discussions and outdoor walks hosted at St. Luke’s Church.
“They learned from different experts in the community about benefits of trees, how to care for trees, how to plant trees, and how to advocate for trees,” Sammond said.
The different experts included Michele Bakacs, county agent/associate professor with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Middlesex and Union Counties, Sammond, as a shade tree commissioner, Rich Miller, a landscape architect, and Joe Castronova, an ecological artist.
The students also heard from a certified arborist, who showed the students how to properly cut trees and all the gear that’s needed.
After the sessions, Sammond said it was important for the students to go out into the field, to identify trees; identify what’s wrong with them; identify what’s right with them; do we need to trim them back; how to plant them properly and how to speak to people in the community about the benefits of the trees.
Trees were planted at Campbell Elementary School, Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School.
This year, Sammond thought it would be best to pick a familiar municipal property to plant trees. He thought the library was a great location. As assistant scout master with Boy Scout Troop 17, they have planted trees at the library including a sycamore, swamp maple, elm and river birch.
“I was thinking if we can get as many trees as possible here it will help with the heating bills, cooling bills, it beautifies the area, there is less maintenance for lawns and there is more involvement with kids in the community,” he said.
The Tree Ambassador program expanded to Highland Park high school students and there are interests in Edison and South Plainfield.
“The advantage in Metuchen is we have a Shade Tree Commission,” Sammond said. “Highland Park has a Shade Tree Advisory Committee, which is typically different, and Edison and South Plainfield don’t have either.”
And as Sammond emphasized, they don’t get paid for the program, “We just want to make our community greener.”
And for their efforts, the Tree Ambassadors program was recognized in a big way through the Drumthwacket Foundation and Sustainable Jersey in June.
The Drumthwacket Foundation and Sustainable Jersey recognized eight student teams from middle and high schools across New Jersey for their projects in the 2025 New Jersey Student Climate Challenge. These action projects, designed and completed by students, addressed local impacts and causes of climate change and were presented through original digital story videos.
The Tree Ambassadors program came in second in the high school category and was one of eight schools recognized for innovative climate action projects.
In December, the Climate Change Committee at Metuchen Public Schools was recognized during the 25th annual Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards given annual to individuals and organizations that demonstrate commitment and leadership on a varity of environmental issues, including environmental justice, climate change, sustainability and education.
The Climate Change Committee of the Metuchen Public Schools has supported the integration of climate change education throughout the school district’s curriculum; ran a yearlong climate change awareness initiative for all district staff; championed Sustainable Jersey certification at Metuchen High School; supported environmental clubs; and collaborated with the Metuchen Shade Tree Commission to implement a Tree Ambassadors program.
