Volunteer Forester Trainings
What fun to become a Volunteer Forester! Trees Knoxville offers the Volunteer Forester Training Program to develop your tree management skills.
Trees Knoxville plants about 144 trees a year and depends 100% on volunteers to accomplish that goal. The Volunteer Forester program was developed to create a trained and educated volunteer force to assist at tree plantings. Trees Knoxville relies on the expertise of Volunteer Foresters at tree plantings to work with less experienced volunteers to ensure that trees are properly planted and mulched.
Upon completion of the 12 hour training, Volunteer Foresters receive a certificate of completion and a Trees Knoxville t-shirt after attending at least one volunteer event.
class cost $50
Fee waived for active AmeriCorps volunteers serving in Knox County.
Discounts available for teachers and students.
class cost $50
Fee waived for active AmeriCorps volunteers serving in Knox County.
Discounts available for teachers and students.
Fall Session (Begins September 27, 2023)
Session 1- Wednesday, September 27, 6pm-9pm:
Tree Selection and Proper Tree Planting
Kasey Krouse, City of Knoxville
Location: Larry Cox Senior Center
Session 2 - Wednesday, October 4, 6pm-9pm:
Introduction to Trees Knoxville & Knoxville’s Urban Forest
Dr. McKinney, University of Tennessee
Location: 3131 Morris Ave, Knoxville, TN 37909
Session 3 - Wednesday, October 18, 6pm-9pm:
Tree Health and Invasive Plant Species
Nick St. Sauveur, Cortese Tree Specialist
Lee Rumble, University of Tennessee and Knox County Extension
Location: Victor Ashe Park
Session 4 - Wednesday, October 25, 6pm-9pm:
The Science and Art of Pruning
Dr. Paul Ries, Insightful Nature LLC
Sam Adams, University of Tennessee
Location: UT Gardens
**Note: We will not meet Wednesday, October 11 due to fall break
All correspondence regarding the class are sent via email.
Spring Session (Ended May 17, 2023)
What Volunteer Foresters say about the Program…
“Although I am not a tree expert by any means, I have learned so much as a volunteer forester. I completed the program in 2017 and have enjoyed the events and program offered by Trees Knoxville following the training. I feel that having gone through the training has given me a far better foundation to learn about trees, caring for trees and identifying trees.” Nancy Howell
“A Chinese proverb says, ‘The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now.’ I love trees, so I want to plant and care for them. Being a Volunteer Forester gives me the opportunity to plant trees all over town, instead of just in my own yard. Another saying I like is to the effect that ‘you may not live to enjoy the shade of the tree you plant, but someone will.’" Jerry Thornton
"I enjoyed meeting other people who like trees. TREE POWER!" Bob Riehl
"Before I took this class, I thought I knew how to plant a tree, but now I actually do." Jenny Arthur
“Before becoming a Volunteer Forester, I already had a very deep appreciation for trees, growing up in the Smokies. I jumped at the opportunity to be a Volunteer Forester because it allowed me a chance to deepen my understanding of trees beyond aesthetics and learn to properly care for them, and thus give back to nature and, going forward from training, the community as well.” Andy Caylor
Call 865-236-0639 or email treesknoxville@gmail.com with any training-related questions.