Sky, trees and scouts

Friends of Trees’ newest board member, Sky O’Callahan, is no stranger to nature.

Sky, his wife Skipper, and their son Conor (16) live on a farm south of Oregon City with their friends, Sue and Chip. The two families have formed a double-sized family on the farm for 25 years, with Conor growing up like a brother to Sue and Chip’s son, Seth, who’s now attending college.

Sky has planted trees on the farm, which features an orchard, ducks that lay eggs for the extended family, and an organic garden that provides them with fresh produce. He was first introduced to city tree planting at a Friends of Trees event sponsored by The Standard, where he works as Assistant Vice President of Customer Support.

A year ago he made a pledge to plant 100 trees, some on his farm and others in neighborhoods. He hopes that Friends of Trees will help him reach—or surpass—his goal.

Sky credits his Boy Scout troop in the Los Angeles area, where he grew up, for laying the “foundation for my love of trees.” His troop often backpacked in Yosemite and Sequoia National parks. Sky left Los Angeles in 1985 “in large part because I was tired of cement and wanted more trees and actual seasons.”

Boy Scouts and trees continue to be part of the family picture. Conor is a Star Scout and enjoys the large old trees at his church camp at Mt. Adams.

Sky also plays guitar and sings in addition to reading, hiking, and enjoying baseball.

–Teri Ruch