About
Casey Trees developed its signature Citizen Forester Program in 2003 to educate District residents on how to properly care for trees and become urban forestry advocates for their neighborhoods.
Citizen Foresters serve as tree ambassadors to the community on behalf of Casey Trees. Citizen Foresters teach new volunteers how to properly plant and care for trees, represent Casey Trees at neighborhood meetings and events, perform tree maintenance such as watering and mulching, and spread the word about Casey Trees and the value of urban forests.
Since its inception, the program has graduated more than 600 Citizen Foresters.
DETAILS:
HOW DO I BECOME A CITIZEN FORESTER?
| |
Easy. Enroll in Casey Trees' Trees 101 orientation class. Trees 101 discusses basic tree ecology, identification and care, and strategies for restoring the District's tree canopy.
The next Trees 101 orientation class is Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Click here to register.
|
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITTMENT?
| |
You determine how little or much time you want to commit serving as a Citizen Forester. Volunteer opportunities exist year-round.
|
DO I NEED TO HAVE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WTIH TREES?
| |
No. Citizen Foresters come from all walks of life and skill levels. We will teach you everything you need to know about trees in order for you to be an effective advocate for urban forests.
|
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO BECOMING A CITIZEN FORESTER?
| |
Too many to list. Citizen Foresters get to interact socially with other individuals who share a similar interest in and appreciation for trees, be introduced to new neighborhoods during tree planting and care events, gain hands on urban forestry experience, and experience a sense of accomplishment for making the District more green.
All this on top of getting a lime green mesh vest to keep!
|
WHAT IS A LEAD CITIZEN FORESTER? HOW DO I BECOME ONE?
| |
Lead Citizen Foresters are Casey Trees volunteers trained to provide technical assistance to Community Tree Planting applicants throughout their planning, execution, and maintenance process.
Casey Trees invites a select number of volunteers to become Lead Citizen Foresters.
To be considered, Citizen Foresters must:
- Be actively volunteering with Casey Trees
- Complete Trees 101, Tree Planting, and Trees in the City
-
Exhibit leadership, enthusiasm, helpfulness, and organizational skills at tree plantings and other volunteer events.
|
|
Citizen Forester Profile
|
Bob Summersgill
Citizen Forester - 2008
Lead Citizen Forester - 2009
|
Bob Summersgill discovered Casey Trees in November 2008 when he volunteered for the Community Tree Planting (CTP) event with the DC Frontrunners.
“I had so much fun planting trees,” Summersgill says, “I decided to get involved.” Bob plunged in, taking Trees in the City as his first class, and has been active since.
His first outing as a team leader came the following spring, when he supervised the planting of two white oaks at Rock Creek Cemetery.
Since then Bob has become a Lead Citizen Forester working with fellow Citizen Forester Earl Lee to guide the Gangplank Marina CTP this past fall.
“Neither of us had organized, but we had experience planting and we knew what was needed.”
Bob’s connection to trees is deep and long-lasting. He remembers walking with his father to school, and his father would tell him about trees. “Tulip trees are so very straight,” he remembers being told, “towering above the house.”
His father owns a farmhouse in Pennsylvania built by his great grandparents that includes an orchard and chestnut trees for a cross-breeding project. He’s working with Asian and American chestnuts, working backward to develop an American chestnut that is blight-resistant.
Bob came to Washington from New Jersey in 1983 to attend George Washington University. He now works for the National Academy of Sciences in information services. In his free time, he “lobbies (Ward 6 Councilmember) Tommy Wells.” Bob’s projects include the gay marriage bill, creating a smokefree indoor workplace and the bag bill (Anacostia Recovery and Protection Act).
Bob is eager to lead another project — “absolutely” — and has his eyes on two specific projects, one at a child care/early education center and the other at his alma mater.
“Planting trees is fun. You feel great about it afterward,” Bob says. “You meet a lot of nice people.
|
|
