Volunteers

A new year brings new volunteer opportunities to steward, connect with and learn about the urban forest. Our volunteers play a critical role in supporting our community programs and helping us improve the urban forest. As a result, we strive to ensure that every volunteer that participates with LEAF – no matter the role – has a meaningful, fulfilling and fun experience! To highlight some of our upcoming volunteer opportunities, we chatted with three LEAF volunteers to get a first-hand account of their adventures.

Our Stewardship Coordinator, Brian Millward, had the pleasure of speaking with Lillian Natalizio about her experience with LEAF and her passion for the urban forest. From stewardship in our demonstration gardens to participating in community tree planting events, Lillian has participated in almost every volunteer program we offer since she joined our community in 2015! In total, she has donated over 350 hours of her time to protecting and enhancing the urban forest.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, LEAF has reimagined its volunteer programs and is now delivering many of them virtually. Recently, we completed our first virtual volunteer orientation and connected with 50 new urban forest advocates! What challenges does this virtual world pose for LEAF programs, and what new opportunities does it present?

In 2019, LEAF volunteers and stewardship event participants gave over 4,200 hours of their own time to LEAF programs, such as: community tree planting events, Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens, community events, Tree Tours and so much more! With so many programs and projects to celebrate, we’re taking a moment to acknowledge the contributions made by our TREE-rific volunteers and LEAF community.

LEAF volunteers, project partners, board members and staff came together for a delightful night of celebration and mingling as we reflected on our many TREEmendous accomplishments of 2018!