THE LEAFLET

Monday was Labor Day – the unofficial end of summer. A chance to relax and honor the contributions and achievements of American workers. And while it’s easy to enjoy the extra time off, it’s just as important to pat yourself on the back and take pride in your professional accomplishments. Here at Casey Trees, we are an organization built of diverse individuals who come from various paths and backgrounds, but we are all unified and connected through our shared passion and dedication to our local and greater environment. We come back day after day because our work is a labor of love, for our community, our environment, and obviously – our trees! Join us as we recount and celebrate our accomplishments this spring and summer.

Our Education team had a vibrant summer, engaging with campers in our immersive ‘Branching out in Brookland’ Treewise camp! These campers not only learned about the importance of trees but also developed a deeper connection with nature, fostering the next generation of environmental stewards. Beyond our camps, you may have seen our Education team out in the wild at various community events, from farmers’ markets to community partnership days, spreading awareness about urban forestry and the critical role trees play in our city. Through hands-on activities and interactive displays, they reached a wide audience, inspiring people of all ages to take an active role in tree care and advocacy.

June marked Land Conservation Month, a time of year that provides a poignant reminder of the vital role greenspaces play in our communities and the importance of protecting these natural treasures for future generations. Our Policy and Land Conservation team’s success in securing various conservation easements has been instrumental in protecting green spaces across our District. These easements safeguard existing trees and preserve loved areas of community greenspaces in perpetuity. We even highlighted one of our easements, Hellbender Hill, with a Land Conservation Day party to conclude the month of celebration right next door at our partner’s Hellbender Brewing Company. The team has also been busy preparing for upcoming testimonies, where they will advocate for policies that support tree conservation and urban forestry. Their work is crucial in maintaining and expanding the green spaces that are so vital to the health and well-being of our community.

Our Events team has been on the move, hosting and attending 40 events throughout the summer. These events have been a crucial part of our outreach, engaging both seasoned volunteers and newcomers who are eager to make a difference. Earlier this year, we even had the pleasure of recruiting and training our newest batch of Team Leaders, who play a pivotal role in guiding our volunteers during planting and care activities. As we gear up for our Urban Tree Summit, the Events team is working to ensure that this year’s summit is the best yet, bringing together experts, advocates, and community members to discuss the future of urban forestry.

As we recently shared, our Farm team has continued to diligently work on tagging 7,974 trees for reservation by our trusted partners. These include Casey Trees, Baltimore Tree Trust, Urban Forestry Division, the Architect of the Capitol, and both the City and County of Fairfax. Another major undertaking has been the continued development of our new Block 8. Our crew has been hard at work installing a trench and irrigation line, which will be critical for the health and growth of the trees in this area. This infrastructure is a vital step in ensuring that our newly planted trees have the best possible start.

Tree Operations has been the backbone of our summer efforts, working tirelessly to water and care for the thousands of trees we’ve planted across the city. Their work doesn’t stop there—this team has been meeting with community partners and securing future planting locations, laying the groundwork for what is shaping up to be our busiest planting season on record. As the days grow shorter and the planting season approaches, Tree Ops is preparing for a marathon of activities that will see thousands of new trees added to our urban canopy. Their dedication ensures that every tree we plant is given the best possible start in life, contributing to a greener, healthier city for all.

These achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Casey Trees. As we move into the fall season, we look forward to building on these successes, continuing our mission to restore, enhance, and protect the tree canopy of our nation’s capital.