National Volunteer Week: Planting Magic

This week, to celebrate National Volunteer Week, we’d like to share with you some of our favorite stories from our Citizen Foresters. This story originally appeared in the November-December 2010 Leaflet.

Kerrin Kastorf never really knew the logistics of CTP events when she first started interning at Casey Trees five years ago.

Kastorf, who now works in the camping and action sports department at REI, would occasionally visit planting sites as an employee, but never actually took part in the plantings. At one event, she met a volunteer — the two are currently dating — who insisted she come out and participate in the actual planting process.

“It was the greatest thing ever,” she said.

Kastorf became a Citizen Forester shortly thereafter. She said the physical act of tree planting gave her a feeling of instant gratification.

“Planting a tree makes an immediate difference.” she said. “It doesn’t take six months or six years, the change is right there in front of you.”

She attributes increased confidence in leading groups to her time as a Citizen Forester. And almost five years later, she’s still impressed at people’s commitment to keeping the District green.

“When I go to plantings and see 50 people, it amazes me,” Kastorf said. “I know it shouldn’t, but it still does.”

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