Many a school student in Williamsport, upon being assigned the task of identifying and collecting a variety of tree leaves in the fall of the year, has headed to Brandon Park.

The 43-acre park is known for its collection of tree varieties, among the largest, if not the largest, in the Williamsport area. No wonder it is considered to be a crown jewel of the city.

Now a new set of students is at work in the park, but these are students from the Jersey Shore area who have come here through a program of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources — the Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps.

The Outdoor Corps offers work experience, job training, and environmental educational opportunities to young people who complete recreation and conservation projects on public lands.

The city is fortunate to have two youth crews with the Outdoor Corps here inventorying and mapping Brandon Park’s trees, identifying each tree’s species, taking measurements and documenting its condition.

Among other things, this information will measure the “value” of each tree in terms of water uptake and the amount of storm water getting into drainage systems.

When you think about it, this also speaks to the value of trees that line many of the city’s streets, as well as the value of trees everywhere.

We need to view the city’s urban forest, which had been inventoried some years ago by the Shade Tree Commission, as an asset in stormwater management, among other things, as opposed to something that creates work and breaks sidewalks.

But as for the park, this information also may be valuable for anyone interested in learning more about individual trees in the park, as well as local school students — it will be provided on a website called Open Free Map.

We can’t wait to get a look at it.