CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – ReLeaf Cville is expanding its Green Team Program in 2026, offering more opportunities for local students to gain hands-on experience in environmental stewardship, urban forestry and climate resilience.

The nonprofit announced this week that its summer Green Team Program will serve 24 rising ninth- through 12th-grade students through two separate paid educational sessions. The expanded format includes a new Acorn Session for younger participants in grades 9 and 10, while the Oak Session will provide advanced learning opportunities for returning students and those in grades 11 and 12.

According to ReLeaf Cville Executive Director Cathy Boyd, the expansion reflects growing interest from returning participants and a desire to offer more specialized environmental education.

“We wanted to deepen these students’ knowledge of the importance of a healthy urban tree canopy,” Boyd told Cville Right Now. “We want students to understand that their efforts are important and part of the City’s Climate Resilience Plan.”

The Oak Session begins June 15 and will focus heavily on urban forestry and climate resilience. Students will participate in activities including tree identification, urban gardening, herbalism, tree preservation and renewable energy education.

Program highlights include a hike through Heyward Community Forest with City of Charlottesville Urban Forester Steve Gaines, visits to the Downtown Mall and Code Building rooftop garden and a day focused on solar energy with Commonwealth Energy Partners.

Participants will also take part in an overnight educational trip to Bath County, where they will learn about rural economies and conservation efforts through visits to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, a solar energy project, a sheepdog demonstration and Mountain Gateway Community College’s forestry department and sawmill.

The new Acorn Session begins July 7 and is designed to introduce younger high school students to environmental leadership and the role trees play in local ecosystems. The program will be headquartered at the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, with activities taking place throughout Charlottesville.

Students in the Acorn Session will learn tree identification and maintenance, study the impact of invasive plant species, kayak the Rivanna River while exploring its history and examine the connections between climate change, water quality and urban forests.

The session also includes a visit to Bellair Farm and an overnight experience at The Living Earth School in Afton.

ReLeaf Cville Board Chair Peggy Van Yahres said the program’s educational mission remains central to its growth.

“Education is at the heart of what we do,” Van Yahres told Cville Right Now. “We want our Green Team students to learn about how important trees are to the environment from experts. We are grateful to our expert community partners in helping with the Green Team Summer Training.”

ReLeaf Cville’s Green Team Program combines environmental education, outdoor experiences and community engagement, with organizers aiming to cultivate the next generation of environmental leaders while supporting Charlottesville’s broader sustainability goals.

The nonprofit said the expanded program will allow more students to participate in hands-on learning opportunities and gain a deeper understanding of how urban forests contribute to climate resilience and community well-being.