The Sidewalk Classroom: Teaching Urban Forestry to Denver's First Graders

Growing tomorrow's environmental stewards today! The Downtown Denver Partnership's collaboration with Downtown Denver Expeditionary School helps first graders develop meaningful connections with urban trees, bringing nature education to the heart of downtown.

At Downtown Denver Expeditionary School (DDES), learning goes beyond the classroom. Located in the heart of the city, DDES students engage in real-world expeditions that connect them to their community. Whether exploring local neighborhoods, partnering with city organizations, or tackling meaningful projects, students learn by doing—growing as thinkers, collaborators, and active citizens.

Each year, DDES first grade classes complete a unit about trees. The Partnership supports this curriculum with interactive presentations and guided walking tours of downtown tree infrastructure, where students eagerly share their knowledge while discovering new insights.

During these walks, students visit an empty tree-less space in front of their school, a small tree bed on Sherman Street, and large planters built through the Urban Forest Initiative (UFI). The students learn that the amount of space a tree has to grow is directly connected to the tree’s health and success, a principle that UFI applies to its projects. The program has provided nearly 140 tree beds downtown with larger growing spaces. Armed with measuring tapes—connecting to their math curriculum—the first graders measure each space, comparing the different tree bed sizes and identify which ones are optimal for downtown trees to thrive.

This experiential learning helps students develop critical thinking about urban design and environmental planning. As they explore their downtown surroundings, these young learners gain valuable perspective on the importance of integrating nature into city spaces—knowledge they'll carry forward as Denver's next generation of community members!

If you’d like to learn more about UFI, you can take a walking tour, just like the students!