TREES students went on a walk around Lake Waughop near the Pierce College Ft. Steilacoom campus with educator, activist, and athlete Sui-Lan Hookano, who shared her knowledge of plant histories and Indigenous land stewardship by teaching students to identify native plant species and learn about their use

The first field trip for TREES was a visit to the Nisqually Tribal Cultural Center where we learned about Nisqually culture and relationships with the land from cultural educator Hanford McCloud, as well as his parents Don and Joyce. This was followed by a guided hike through the Billy Frank Jr. Wildlife Refuge with Sheila Wilson of the Nisqually River Foundation, who taught students about the history of the land, the local ecology, and about the species of plants and animals who depend on it.

The final TREES field trip was a guided walk through Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood with local activist Miriam McBride, where students learned about the many pieces of community art on display, the history of the neighborhood, and the work of local organizations like Hilltop Urban Gardens, the People's Community Center, and Fab5.