IntegriTree and Other Character Traits to Grow On
by Andrea Skyberg and the Milwaukee Environmental Sciences Academy

Doing the right thing, even when no one is looking

Just like a tree needs water, air, and nutrient rich soil to grow strong and proud, we need character traits like integrity, grit, stewardship, respect, leadership, and craftsmanship to grow into strong and beautiful creations of the earth. Combining the imagery of animals and trees native to Wisconsin, students worked with Andrea to create collage and design illustrations, while also writing about ways to strengthen character by looking to the trees for inspiration.

I worked with Milwaukee Environmental Science Academy to create IntegriTree. Over 200 kids along with the entire staff are working with me to write and illustrate a picture book based on their school’s character traits. The staff started the project, collaging and designing the cover for our book. The school’s mascot is the yellow jacket, which is why we chose to feature them on our cover. In the next two months, the students worked with me to illustrate the interior page spreads, as well as write the story. Each page spread featured text created around one of the school’s character traits, combined with the image of a tree and a Wisconsin animal. The big idea in the book is that just like a tree needs water, air, and nutrient rich soil to grow, we need character traits like integrity, grit, stewardship, respect, leadership, and craftsmanship to grow into strong and beautiful additions to the earth. While these illustrations served as the page spreads in the book, they also were enlarged and printed on 4′ x 6′ vinyl and used to decorate the school. The project is made possible through funding from Arts@Large.

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