The trees on campus have burst into bloom, birds fill the branches with song, and the children were captivated when a magnificent hawk visited the sand area. Since Meg Lowman’s virtual visit as our Scientist in Residence, they have been paying closer attention to the abundance of spring.

In the 1980s, Meg was among the first scientists to explore the forest canopy. In this “roof of the world,” she discovered a remarkably rich ecosystem that holds more than half of all terrestrial species. She shared with our students the creative tools she used to reach the treetops, from slingshots that launch ropes over high branches to  climbing gear and even a harness made from seat belts. Her work has also inspired inventive methods of exploration, including a hot air balloon with a suspended raft  for collecting samples and cranes that lift researchers into the highest leaves. The children had many questions, from how the ropes stay in place high in the branches, to which animals are awake at night in the canopy, to how a single tree can be home to so many living things.

One of her most meaningful contributions has been developing canopy walkways, which allow scientists and visitors to move through the treetops and observe life there more closely. These walkways invite young learners to take part as citizen scientists. Meg shared how third graders visiting her flagship walkway in Florida carefully sketched leaves with unusual bite patterns and helped identify an invasive weevil species.

Trees and forests sustain life on Earth. They produce oxygen and fresh water, protect soil, and store carbon. Yet nearly half of the world’s trees have been lost. To help protect what remains, Meg founded the TREE Foundation, building canopy walkways in biodiversity hot spots around the world. These efforts support local communities, encourage sustainable ecotourism, and protect forests from logging. From sacred groves in Ethiopia to endangered forests across several continents, her work is guided by the belief that no child should be left indoors.

Our students especially loved The Leaf Detective and were eager to ask about Meg’s favorite canopy animal, the sloth. Her newest book, Tree Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Arboreal Lives, offers a beautiful introduction to extraordinary trees around the world.

As spring unfolds, the children are looking up with renewed curiosity, drawn to the hidden life in the branches above and the discoveries still waiting there.

With gratitude to scientists like Meg who help us see and care for the life of the trees this Arbor Day,

Maureen