The Neighborhood Tree Steward Program is a FREE program offered by Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry. This program is for community members that want to learn more about trees and also want to give back to their community.
Some of the things you will learn by participating:
- how to identify trees
- how to care for trees
- why our city’s trees are important for people and our planet
- opportunities to work or volunteer
All we ask is that after completing the program, you share your new skills and knowledge by contributing 20 hours of time to volunteer events and activities.
The 2025 Neighborhood Tree Stewards Program consists of seven in-person classes that meet on alternating Saturdays and Tuesdays from May to the end of June. In each class, expert instructors will teach you everything you need to know about trees through a combination of classroom sessions and field training.
Classes will be held at various locations in N, NE, and SE Portland- all easily accessible by public transportation and bike.
To participate, you must be able to attend all class sessions.
The application for the 2025 cohort is open. Apply here.
Week One - Portland’s Urban Forest
Overview
Learn about trees and tree protections in the city
Indoor and Outdoor Session
May 10, 2025
9:00am - 1:00pm
Location to be determined.
- Who is Urban Forestry?
- What is the urban forest?
- Why are trees important?
Introduction to Tree Identification
Week Two - Tree Protection and Shade Equity
Overview
Learn about City Tree Code and Shade Equity
Indoor Session
May 13, 2025
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location to be determined.
- How does the city protect trees?
- How are tree distributed across the city?
- Exploring the Tree Inventory Dashboard
- What is shade equity?
- Challenges to growing the urban forest
Week Three - Tree Care
Overview
Learn how to properly prune a tree
Outdoor Session
May 24, 2025
9:00am - 1:00pm
Location to be determined.
- How do trees grow?
- Proper Structure for Trees
- Good Pruning Practices
Week Four - Pests and Pathogens
Overview
Common threats to urban trees
Indoor and Outdoor Session
May 27, 2025
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location to be determined.
- Common Pathogens to Urban Trees
- How to Support Your Trees
- Emerald Ash Borer
Week Five - Trees in the City
Project Overview
Exploring the City's tree planting programs and tree ecology in the city
Class Session
June 7, 2025
9:00am - 1:00pm
Location to be determined.
- Tree Connections with Birds
- Climate Change and Urban Trees
- Urban Forestry Tree Planting Programs
Week Six - Recognizing Great Trees
Project Overview
Learn about the Heritage Tree Program
Indoor and Outdoor Session
June 10, 2025
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location to be determined.
- Overview of the Heritage Tree Program
- What makes a heritage tree?
- Heritage Tree Walk
Week Seven - Growing our Urban Forest
Project Overview
Learn about the many groups working to grow our urban forest and where you fit in
Indoor Session
June 21, 2025
9:00am - 1:00pm
Location to be determined.
- What's next?
- Meet Partners in the Urban Forest
- Panel of Partners and Volunteers
Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry's mission is to manage and ensure Portland's urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations. Portland’s urban forest consists of 236,000 street trees, 1.2 million park trees, and innumerable private property trees. Urban Forestry is involved in managing or regulating all of these trees to differing degrees. Urban Forestry staff issue permits for planting, pruning, removal of all public and some private trees, and are on call 24/7 to respond to tree emergencies. For more information on Urban Forestry at portland.gov/trees.