Stories, Lessons & Tips from our Newest Crew Leaders
By Jenny Bedell-Stiles
The deep commitment Friends of Trees volunteers have given to the expansion and care of our urban canopy this last season is astounding. The Green Space Initiative program exceeded our all-time record and planted more than 38,500 native trees and shrubs at more than 40 events. Our Neighborhood Trees program exceeded 4,000 street trees at over 30 events. Each of these trees was planted by a volunteer crew led by two trained crew leaders, who are among the hardest working members of our “Tree Team.”
The responses below are from six crew leaders (three from each program) who attended the most plantings during their first season. Their responses to a few quick questions are enthusiastic, funny and sincere. Enjoy!
1) What prompted you to get involved with Friends of Trees as a crew leader?
“I got involved with FOT after I moved back to Oregon last fall from Arizona. I’m a native Oregonian, so I reallllllyyy missed the forests, creeks, rivers and overall beauty the NW has to offer!” –Kendra Wagner
“After going to quite a few plantings, I started to feel more comfortable with my tree-planting knowledge and leading abilities and took up an offer to go to the Crew Leader Training. I have met so many wonderful people in this program and absolutely love every Saturday that I spend planting trees with you guys!” –Hailey Truax
“I love the GSI [Green Space Initiative] plantings. Being able to create habitats by planting natives is the perfect fit for my love of nature and wildlife. I had helped with some of these plantings last year, loved it, and decided to train as a GSI crew leader as a challenge to my own personal skills. And it gave me the opportunity to help turn on more volunteers to the importance and specialness of these plantings.” — Joanie Beldin
2) What is your favorite part of leading volunteers to plant trees?
“I’d have to say there are two parts of crew leading that I like the best: teaching people about trees and getting my hands in the mud.” –Elise Cryder
“Breaking the initial ice between the members in my crew, and watching how they have fun together and begin to form real connections.” — Gabriel Trainer
“My favorite part about being a crew leader is meeting so many entertaining people.” — Hailey Truax
3) Were there any moments this season that transcended the planting event into something greater/more/worse/less, i.e. something unexpected, funny, or warm-fuzzy invoking?
“I gotta say, being a 24-year-old female, I really enjoyed the planting with The Portland Timbers! As much as I love planting trees… I REALLY love planting trees with beautiful soccer players helping out! What more could a girl ask for?” — Kendra Wagner
“In January I did a planting in East Portland with a crew of seven Latino high schoolers and a few other volunteers. Although they all spoke English, there was still a slight language barrier that made it hard for them to step out and talk to the other members of the crew. At the last house, the teenage stepson of the homeowner came out to plant with us. I could tell he was intimidated by my crew and wary of getting his hands dirty. I remembered being his age myself (wasn’t too long ago) and not liking the feeling of dirty hands, so I gave him my pair of gloves. I walked away to help someone else, and the next time I saw him, he was digging a hole with another member of my crew. They were both having a great time; a shared experience planting trees was able to transcend language and cultural barriers.” –Gabriel Trainer
“The thing I remember the most about this year’s experience is how I felt every time I left to come home. I always walked away feeling light—just that totally good and satisfying feeling that comes from doing something you believe in and care about… I always loved looking out and watching all these people, from young children to seniors, doing what was at times plain hard work and being totally good-natured about it—and doing it so enthusiastically. It felt like collectively we were all sharing those good feelings we felt inside that come with planting new life in the ground. ” — Joanie Beldin
4) What advice do you have for others thinking about becoming a crew leader?
“DO IT! I was always a bit nervous about becoming a crew leader before I went out and did it, because I didn’t think I would be prepared enough. But as soon as I got out there, I realized it’s a piece of cake. It’s all about having fun with the volunteers, and the planting just comes naturally from experience.” — Hailey Truax
“Be willing to give up your Saturdays for a few months because once you start you’ll probably be there every weekend :)” –Elise Cryder
“Planting trees is what brings us together, but it is the community we build that brings us back… Don’t be afraid to be yourself as a crew leader, I have enjoyed the diverse perspectives of the crew leaders I have worked with and how they all bring their own skills to the table. When you engage with them and open up about yourself, they may in turn open up about themselves, and all of a sudden you’ve gone from a group of strangers to a group of friends!” –Gabriel Trainer
“Definitely do it. And as many Saturdays as you can.” — Eliza Lasky
Are you reading this and wondering how you can get involved as a crew leader? Well the truth is that we’d love to have you! Every season we welcome dozens of new crew leaders to our ranks. If this sounds like something you’d like to learn more about, please email or call 503-595-0213. We can add you to a list and be in touch late summer with more details about attending a November Crew Leader Training.
As final inspiration, I’ll leave you with a last thought from Kendra Wagner: “Being a crew leader has given me so many awesome Saturdays this season. I am convinced it’s impossible to have a bad day after starting your day out with Friends of Trees.” And who doesn’t want to have an amazing Saturday?
– Bedell-Stiles is the Volunteer & Outreach Specialist with Friends of Trees.