Volunteer with Urban Forestry

Information
Urban Forestry representative showing someone the yard trees the city is giving away
Talk trees at cultural events, festivals, and in the community. Share your love of trees and help us grow Portland's tree canopy.

2023 Outreach Calendar 

EventDateRegister
Yard Tree Giveaway Event Volunteer 9/30
Parkrose/Argay Canvassing10/6Register Here
Yard Tree Giveaway Event Volunteer 10/7Register Here 
Portland Arbor day (tree planting) 10/14Register Here
Yard Tree Giveaway Event Volunteer10/14Register Here 

Why Volunteer at Outreach Events? 

Help us connect with the public with prizes, stickers, and other materials while promoting pre-registration of our Fall Yard Tree Giveaway events.


Who Are We Looking For to Volunteer? 

Volunteer sitting behind table full of Urban Forestry materials including tree cones, a prize wheel, and some Yard Tree giveaway flyers
Volunteer Jeremy Nguyen promoting the Yard Tree Giveaway

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.

Please let us know if you speak a language other than English when registering!  


How to Volunteer?  

Go to Track It Forward to select an event and sign-up. You will be asked to sign-in or register (if you have not done so already).

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

Close-up image of the cone of a Douglas-fir tree.

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.