They came, they climbed, they conquered.

Teenage participants in the YES (Youth Environmental Stewardship) program came from neighborhoods throughout the city on Tuesday, July 19, for a “Tree Field Day” in Hunting Park. The 36 young people learned about pruning, mulching, and other forms of tree care, and they heard about Plant One Million.

But the highlight of the day was the tree-climbing workshop, led by professional arborists under a towering oak. Several teens strapped on a harness and hoisted themselves, using ropes and willpower, more than 20 feet up the trunk.

The YES program, a partnership of PHS and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, helps young people connect with nature and trains them in greening and leadership skills. YES provides six weeks of paid summer employment during which the teens clean their parks and rec centers, remove invasive plants, add annuals and perennials to the beds, maintain trails, and water plants.

Participating sites are

• Cobbs Creek Park and Rec Center,
• Hunting Park and Rec Center,
• Mander Playground/East Park,
• Olney Rec Center/Tacony Creek Park,
• Papa Playground/Morris Park,
• Ramp Playground/Pennypack Park.

The YES program is made possible through the support of Bank of America, the Kate Svitek Memorial Foundation, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Youth Network, and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.