Young Urban Forest Leaders

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this year’s Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) Program gave us plenty worth sharing. Over four months, participants learned to identify trees, planted trees with the City of Toronto, learned from Indigenous teachers, connected with environmental professionals and led public tree tours of their own. Here are some of our favourite moments from a fun and hands-on season.

Imagine walking through your community and recognizing the trees around you as living neighbours — knowing their names, their stories, their significance. For many participants of LEAF’s Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) Program, this is exactly what happens. Through hands-on learning, mentorship and community engagement, youth gain the knowledge and confidence to better understand, care for and connect with the urban forest around them. As LEAF celebrates 30 years of community-driven urban forestry, we are reflecting on the people who are becoming its next generation of stewards.

My name is Elizabeth and I am a recent graduate of the Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) program. I had a wonderful time nerding out with other YUFL participants about trees all summer and gaining skills and tools to further my forestry career. Keep reading to see what I learned with the YUFL and how it’s shaping my path in urban forestry.

Naomi’s passion for community engagement and urban forestry was reinforced throughout her experience as a Young Urban Forest Leader in 2024. We caught up with her recently to hear how the skills and knowledge she gained through the program helped develop her confidence, grow her network and enrich her professional career!

Meet Wameeya and Jesse, two recent graduates of LEAF’s Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) program! They both gained valuable experiences in the fields of arboriculture, urban forestry and community engagement throughout the 2023 program. Our Education Coordinator, Natasha Jovanovic, recently caught up with them to learn more about their experiences as YUFL participants.