Residents build urban forestry skills and connections
Engaged residents who understand the value of trees play a key role in sustaining a thriving urban forest. Canopy’s adult education programs equip residents with the tools and knowledge to steward trees in their own communities, and inspire people of all ages to explore, enjoy, and connect with nature outside their doorstep.
2022 Community Forestry School cohort
Launched in 2018, Canopy’s Community Forestry School is a 9-week course that equips community members with skills and knowledge to champion trees in their own neighborhoods, cities, and beyond. This year, the series once again combined virtual class sessions with outdoor field work.
The newest cohort included 29 students of all ages who attended virtual classes and field work, plus 16 auditors who attended just classes. Through a mix of guest speakers, group discussion, staff instructors, and hands-on field work, students covered a range of community forestry topics, including tree biology and identification, species selection, site assessment, tree care and pruning, and urban forest advocacy.
This year's curriculum included a larger focus on local environmental justice issues related to trees, such as how residents in neighborhoods that lack trees also experience poorer physical and mental health, and how the lack of forethought in the design of certain city infrastructure—such as water lines running beneath planting strips—can prevent trees from being planted in areas where they would be very beneficial.
In their own words: 2022 CFS students share their experience
After each CFS course, Canopy invites students to share highlights, feedback, and suggestions via an anonymous evaluation. Here are a few sentiments from our fall 2022 cohort. Special thanks to all the CFS students who took time to share their valuable thoughts!
“The course and fieldwork were a critical offering for me when I was feeling overwhelmed by seeing the urban (and other) forests begin to suffer….this course helped me feel like I was equipping myself to do something about this. I gained knowledge and skills I would not have had or known where to gain otherwise.”
“The answer to global warming and nature advocacy is not only in planting trees, but in planting the importance of trees...I love the way Canopy is embracing this mission and making a difference in how we think about trees. I hope we all continue to grow our passion and connection with nature and with each other, sharing the importance of this mission."
“This course made me realize I've been taking city trees for granted. I'd always thought of them as someone else's responsibility. Thanks to Canopy, I feel empowered to start caring for the urban forest around me."
“When I returned home from the second [field session] my mouth and heart were smiling because I had been with an age and ethnically diverse group who all shared a common concern, a common passion. It made me feel good.”
Neighborhood tree walks resume and evolve
During the pandemic, Canopy had to suspend monthly in-person tree walks led by local arborists. Instead, the team focused on creating interactive online guides to supplement our classic neighborhood maps.
These online guides continue to be a resource for residents, but we were also grateful to resume in-person walks in 2022. Special editions this past year included an “Edible Urban Forest” walk led by four special guests with expertise in food and sustainability; a history-focused walk in Mountain View’s Pioneer Park, and a kid-friendly walk as part of an Arbor Day partnership with the Palo Alto Art Center.
Staff shout-out: Education Director Vanessa Wyns has been busy this year! In addition to leading Community Forestry School, Tree Walks, and other programs, she completed California Releaf's Urban Forest Leadership Training and spoke about urban forests in an April 2022 episode of the Beyond Bosch podcast.
Artist Patricia Larenas inspires conservation through iconic tree portraits
Throughout 2021 and 2022, Canopy was incredibly fortunate to partner with Patrica Larenas, a Bay Area visual artist who shares our passion for trees.
As part of a pilot Artist-in-Residence program, Patricia worked on several Oak portraits and granted Canopy the right to use the images. These portraits included the native oak species that Canopy is surveying for the Great Oak Count as well as "Lucy," an iconic Valley Oak in Palo Alto (pictured), the original of which she donated for Canopy's June 2021 fundraiser.
"You can convey beauty in many ways," says Patricia, "but how do you convey the awe, the wonder that comes when you're in the presence of trees, especially ancient ones?" That challenge and honor, she shares, is an important part of what animates her work.
You can see more of Patricia's beautiful tree artwork on her Instagram (@plarenas_onpaper).
