Summer Outreach Calendar
Why Volunteer?
Urban Forestry’s mission is to manage Portland’s urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations. We do this by issuing permits to regulate and protect city trees. Our crews respond to tree related emergencies and finally, we develop programs that are centered around education and stewardship to engage the public in helping us create a healthy urban forest in Portland for generations to come
Help us connect with the public to let them know who we are and what we do, so that we can best serve the people of Portland.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for adults who are:
- Friendly
- Sociable
- Passionate about trees and nature
- Can commit to 2–3-hour shifts.
Volunteers will usually work in pairs and may be involved in clean up and break down at the beginning or end of events. We are looking mostly to promote our Yard Tree Giveaway.
As a volunteer, you will engage the public with prizes, stickers, and other materials while promoting pre-registration of our Fall Yard Tree Giveaways.
Let us know if you speak a language other than English when registering!
How to volunteer?
Click on the track it forward link select an event and sign-up. You will be asked to sign-in or register. More information about using this platform is available here:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I volunteer if I don’t know a lot about trees? Yes! We understand that not everyone will have extensive knowledge of trees. We just ask that you have a love of nature and a desire to keep Portland green.
What if I don’t know how to answer questions? You will be given a reference sheet as well as tips on how to answer questions. Tip: 503-823-Tree is the city’s tree hotline and will be the resource that can answer any questions about trees. Our experienced representatives enjoy answering public questions about trees.
What if I get nervous or don’t know what to say? We believe that being prepared is key to overcoming nervousness. Talking points and limiting the scope of our outreach to only one program at a time will help you feel more prepared. Most shifts will have two people so you will usually have someone readily available assist in any functions.
About Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry
The mission of PP&R’s Urban Forestry (UF) division is to manage and care for Portland's tree infrastructure in the City for current and future generations. Portland’s urban forest consists of 220,000 street trees, 1.2 million park trees, and innumerable private property trees. The Urban Forestry division is involved in managing or regulating these trees. UF created and implements the City of Portland's Urban Forest Management Plan, fosters community tree awareness and stewardship, develops tree policies and programs, monitors and assesses Portland’s urban forest, and issues permits for planting, pruning, and removal of public and some private trees. During extreme weather at all times of the year, UF crews respond to tree emergencies to keep you safe and the City moving.
For more information on Urban Forestry at portland.gov/trees.