Tree Guardians is a two-week middle school unit on oak restoration based on forest ecology research at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois. The website is designed to work in concert with the classroom lessons of participating teachers. The site features a comic book-themed design centered around two superheroes—a squirrel and a woodpecker—who guide students through their exploration of the factors affecting oak woodland growth.
Tree Guardians was developed for The Learning Partnership over the course of one year. The website uses a variety of HTML5 interactive educational activities that explain ecological concepts using authentic data and models. Each interactive uses a distinct visual style and custom interface, designed to engage students and enhance their comprehension.