Spring 2012 TreeKeepers classes begin March 3

With dwindling funding for tree planting and tree care at the federal, state and city levels, how can our region's urban forests be maintained and sustained? For more than 20 years, Openlands has been training volunteers to become TreeKeepers – volunteers focused on community forestry who are planting, maintaining and monitoring trees throughout the greater Chicago region. What sets the TreeKeepers program apart is the depth of the seven-class Treekeepers curriculum; the professional experts who are brought in to teach the classes; and the way our volunteers are empowered to lead projects in their own communities, as well as join in existing opportunities. 

Over the course of seven three-hour Saturday classes held in the spring and fall, TreeKeepers learn the biology, physiology and benefits of trees, soil science, tree identification, mulching, pruning and planting. Professionals from the City of Chicago Bureau of Forestry, the Chicago Park District, Morton Arboretum, Bartlett Tree Experts, The Care of Trees and other experts teach these classes.

Once trained, Openlands' TreeKeepers stay involved through our monthly calendar of workdays or by starting projects in their own neighborhoods. This is what TreeKeepers have to say about their work with Openlands:

"Other volunteer and community work that I've done has been going to meetings, which can be very abstract. Working with trees is fundamental and direct, and the people who do it are great." – Dr. Janet Halpin

"On Arbor Day 2011, we planted 50 trees with employees of Bank of America and students from Northside College Prep. It was a rainy, muddy, messy day and we TreeKeepers were sought out as the experts. Planting under adverse conditions, we were able to lead this volunteer workforce and make sure planting was done right." – Steve Clark

"The restoration work I do at Jarvis Bird Sanctuary is very neat; I get to go in to the areas that are normally secluded that people don't usually get to see. The only people there are there to take care of the plants." – Jackie Aicher

Spring 2012 TreeKeepers classes will run on Saturdays from March 3 to April 14, 2012 at Trumbull Park, 2400 E. 105th St., Chicago 60617 in the South Deering neighborhood. For more information about TreeKeepers or to register for classes, please contact Jim DeHorn at 312-863-6259 or download our spring 2012 brochure.