Our Projects and Initiatives
In our first year as an organization, we will focus on piloting our Youth Tree Tenders program, establishing trees in under-canopied areas of Bloomington, and enhancing tree education among Bloomington residents and youth. Our partnership agreement with the City of Bloomington will allow us to host joint-tree planting and educational events and ensure we are growing our urban forest canopy on both public and private land. Developing up our Youth Tree Tenders program and building a robust network of volunteers will ensure that all new (and existing) trees in Bloomington will be properly planted, pruned, watered and cared for.
Community Tree Plantings
Our goal is to plant trees in areas of Bloomington that lack quality tree canopy and therefore, lack the economic, health, social, and environmental benefits trees provide. We'll partner with Bloomington's residential and neighborhood communities to host tree planting events and help maintain those planted trees. Neighborhoods with low canopy cover or trees in poor health and overall low tree equity will be prioritized. It’s important that our volunteer pool for each planting event is largely composed of residents and youth from the neighborhoods we plant trees in to bring a greater sense of connectedness and provide an opportunity for neighbors to mingle and bond over environmental stewardship. We’ll also accomplish this by hosting a meeting and an educational event prior to the planting event.
Dedicated page coming soon!
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Youth Tree Tenders Program
Through paid opportunities for high school students, CanopyBloomington’s Youth Tree Tenders program trains and educates teenagers about the benefits of trees and why it’s necessary that we care for them, and allows them to apply that knowledge in the field through tree plantings and maintenance. This summer-long program consists of of tree planting, mulching, watering, and pruning procedures and other educational, enrichment, and team-building activities led by our knowledgable staff and board members. Our pilot program occurred in the summer of 2022 and was generously funded by the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, in partnership with the City of Bloomington!
Tree Education & Care Initiative
One of our goals that is central to our mission is to increase knowledge about urban trees in our town and advance environmental stewardship so our urban forest can be resilient, healthy, and equitable for years to come. We will do this by engaging Bloomington residents and youth in tree planting and pruning efforts, enhancing education and awareness of Bloomington’s urban forest, and improving overall environmental literacy that can extend to friends, families, and neighbors. We will host joint educational events, workdays, and workshops with other organizations and City of Bloomington departments that have shared goals, including the Parks and Recreation Department whom we have a partnership agreement with. Additionally, we are in the process of building out our website to be an accessible database of tree education materials, local urban forest research, and more.
Dedicated page coming soon!