TreeKeepers® Certification & Program
Care for the Urban Forest in Chicagoland
Openlands TreeKeepers is an ever-growing community of trained tree ambassadors working to care for and protect the urban forest across Chicagoland. Through the TreeKeeper Certification Course, tree lovers of all ages and backgrounds gain accessible training and education that certifies them as official TreeKeepers. The course runs three times a year. The spring and fall sessions are taught in English and the summer session is in Spanish.
Professional Training
TreeKeeper Certification & Program at Openlands
Become a TreeKeeper
The month-long program prepares participants to help build a healthier, more resilient urban forest in the face of climate change. After completing the course, participants are certified to care for, protect, and plant trees with Openlands.
Get Involved
TreeKeepers can volunteer to lead tree-planting events, participate in or organize their own pruning days, and join or start their own TreeKeeper Chapter in their community. Many become neighborhood leaders, helping advance community-based forestry goals and supporting regional environmental efforts. Whether you volunteer once a year or lead projects in your community, TreeKeeping is a flexible and accessible way to care for nature and support our region in the face of climate change.
30 Years of Community Stewardship
For 30 years, more than 2,200 TreeKeepers and counting have been the eyes and ears on the ground, identifying tree-related problems and leading neighbors in protecting our urban forest. Volunteers work alongside partners such as the Chicago Bureau of Forestry, the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County to strengthen and protect our region’s urban canopy.
Join or Start a TreeKeepers Chapter
TreeKeepers Chapters partner with local municipalities and park districts to focus the group’s stewardship activities on specific forestry goals. By partnering with local government organizations and Openlands, TreeKeeper Chapters can help address local tree stewardship needs, increase tree canopy, and build community among volunteers, government officials, and residents.
A TreeKeeper Chapter coordinates volunteer activities based on their interests and schedules, including pruning and planting events, tree inventories, educational programs, tree walks, and local advocacy initiatives.
