Become a Neighborhood Tree Expert!

By Ian Bonham

Neighbors who are enthusiastic about neighborhood trees are invited to share their interest with others by joining Vancouver Urban Forestry’s NeighborWoods program. With 67 percent of Vancouver’s tree canopy on private property, neighborhood tree champions are the key to a healthy urban forest.

NeighborWoods Stewards receive a free crash course from local arboriculture experts on a variety of tree-related topics including: tree ID, tree biology, proper tree care, tree regulations, proper tree planting, native trees and shrubs, and the overall benefits of trees. NeighborWoods Stewards gain the knowledge they need to become tree liaisons to neighborhood associations, provide tree-related advice, and bring tree plantings or tree-related educational projects to their neighborhoods.

Many of Friends of Trees’ key volunteers got their start in Vancouver’s NeighborWoods. After the five week course, Oliver Sasse created a Neighborhood Green Belt by bringing native shrubs and trees to an area in Airport Green, and Susan Sanders spruced up a park in need by advocating for more flowering and fall color trees at Carter Park.

This five week course begins Thursday, May 9. NeighborWoods training sessions will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm every Thursday at Vancouver City Hall, 415 West 6th Street. Future stewards must register in advance and are asked to attend every session. Participation is limited to the first 20 applicants.

To sign up, call 360-487-8308 or email [email protected]. Visit the NeighborWoods page to download an application or for more information.

NeighborWoods is coordinated by Vancouver’s Urban Forestry program in partnership with Friends of Trees, Clark Public Utilities, Teragan & Associates, Arborscape, Watersheds Stewards, and Collier Arbor Care.

Find out more! Call Jessica Antoine, Urban Forestry Outreach Coordinator at 360-487-8308.

–Bonham is Neighborhood Trees Coordinator for Friends of Trees.