THE LEAFLET

September 16, 2024 /
Lucy Long

Our Fall Events Are Just Getting Started!

Come join Casey Trees this fall for a ton of fun events! Whether you’re getting your hands dirty with the return of our Community Tree Plantings or visiting us at one of the many festivals or summits we will be participating in, we look forward to seeing you this October!

Wednesday 9/18- 9/26 – Urban Tree Summit 

Casey Trees and Montgomery Parks present the 13th annual Urban Tree Summit (UTS). The conference will be held on September 18th, 2024, and take place at the Silver Spring Civic Center. Conference presentations will focus on the health and welfare of trees in our increasingly developed landscapes. Learn from some of the country’s leading experts about innovative efforts to plant, protect, and preserve trees in urban and suburban settings.

Also join us for our field sessions, with few spots remaining! 

Prince George’s County Champion Tree Bus Tour 

Join Chris Garrett for an exciting tour of Prince George’s County Champion trees. Chris has been a Park Ranger for 24 years and is a tree and forest lover and the self-proclaimed “Prince George’s County Champion Tree Finder.” The tour will feature a selection of impressive champion trees, including some of the largest trees, on record, in the Upper Marlboro area. Participants will travel by van from location to location to view these champion trees. Lunch will be provided. 

Introduction to Forest Bathing at Brookside Gardens 

Join naturalist and Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Ana Ka’ahanui from Capital Nature, for an introduction to forest bathing. “Shinrin-yoku,” or taking in the forest atmosphere with all of your senses, is a way to slow down, unwind, and connect to the natural world. Through a series of simple sensory exercises, we’ll be experiencing the wonders of nature with this relaxing mindfulness practice. This Washington Post article will give you a glimpse of a typical forest bathing walk with Ana: Cleansing the soul and restoring the spirit with a spot of forest bathing. 

Saturday 9/21- Festival Del Rio Anacostia

Join us for the Festival del Rio Anacostia, a vibrant celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month! This all-ages festival features dynamic performances, cultural festivities, and outdoor activities for the entire family. Enjoy a day filled with music, dance, and heritage celebrations that honor Hispanic culture. Best of all, it’s free!

Saturday 9/28 – Riversmart Homes Garden Party

Join the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay for a free, community event focused on how you can both manage stormwater and beautify your property with help from the RiverSmart Program! This event will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Northeast DC on Saturday, September 28th. The first 25 attendees will receive a free native plant!

Sunday 9/22- Hyattsville Family Park Program – Tree Walk and Art in the Park!

Join Casey Trees and the City of Hyattsville for a kid-friendly nature walk and arts and crafts at Hyattsville’s Dietz Park on Sunday, September 22nd! Together, we’ll identify trees as we move into fall while also discussing climate change, plant philosophy, and how, if you have the right tree, it can make any space better for you and the community.

Saturday 9/28 – Friends of Anacostia Park Late Skate 

Come get your skate on! Join Friends of Anacostia Park, the National Park Service, and our community partners for a day of music, recreation, and kinship in DC’s most storied skating venue.

Saturday 10/5 – Community Tree Planting: Huntwood Court

Welcome to our fall season of Community Tree Plantings! You provide the volunteers, we provide all the necessary tools and supplies to plant the trees. Participants will receive hands-on training on-site. This planting is presented in partnership with Clean Air Partners.

Saturday 10/5 – Eckington Day

Come join us for a fun-filled day at Alethia Tanner Park! Eckington Day is an annual event bringing neighbors together to enjoy live music, local vendors, free yoga classes, food, and exciting activities like a fun run, a salsa lesson from Baila DC, and a pet costume parade. Invite your family and friends and make lasting memories in the vibrant Eckington community.

Saturday 10/12 – Community Tree Planting: Hamilton Manor

Welcome to our fall season of Community Tree Plantings! You provide the volunteers, we provide all the necessary tools and supplies to plant the trees. Participants will receive hands-on training on-site. This planting is presented in partnership with Clean Air Partners.

Saturday 10/12 – Dreaming Out Loud Festival

This year, Dreaming Out Loud’s Annual Fall Festival promises to be an exciting and vibrant celebration of community, spirit, and culture. Scheduled to take place on October 12th, 2024, behind the Kelly Miller Middle School, the Fall Festival aims to bring together families, friends, vendors, and community members for a day of fun and entertainment.

Saturday 10/19 – Community Tree Planting: Anacostia Park

Welcome to our fall season of Community Tree Plantings! You provide the volunteers, we provide all the necessary tools and supplies to plant the trees. Participants will receive hands-on training on-site. This planting is presented in partnership with the Truist Charitable Fund and the Arbor Day Foundation.

Saturday 10/19 – Kingman Island Family Day

Discover the beauty of Kingman and Heritage Islands on Saturday, October 19th! Enjoy a fun-filled day with family and friends featuring paddling, nature walks, fishing, scavenger hunts, and a variety of exciting activities. Don’t miss out on this adventure in nature!

Saturday 10/19 – Hyattsville Green Summit

Celebrate a decade of environmental progress with the Prince George’s County Green Summit on Saturday, October 19th at David C. Driskell Community Park in Hyattsville. Join the Department of the Environment for a day of green initiatives and community engagement.

Saturday 10/26 – Hyattsville Tree Walk: Right Tree, Right Place

Join Casey Trees and forester Sam Nelson for a tree-focused walk in Hyattsville’s Driskell Park. Together, we’ll identify different trees and discuss their histories, relationships, and personalities. We’ll also discuss Right Tree, Right Place, a phrase foresters use when deciding where a tree should be planted to live its best life. Come become a Right Tree Person in the Right Place!

Sunday, 10/27 – Mitchell Park Family Fun Day

Join the Friends of Mitchell Park for their annual Fall Fun Day on October 27th! Bring the whole family for a festive afternoon filled with pumpkin decorating, a moon bounce, balloon art, a bake sale, a tie-dye truck, and much more. Don’t miss out on the autumn fun!

Monday- Friday, 11/4-11/8 – Tree Climbing Academy 

Apply to our Tree Climbing Academy to join Casey Trees, Montgomery Parks, and Bartlett Tree Experts to learn how to climb trees! The academy aims to introduce climbing skills and experience to those interested in arboriculture and forestry, or those already in the tree care industry or related field. Over the five days, participants will be led by expert instructors in safe working concepts, ropes and knots, climbing saddles and equipment, and industry best practices. Participants will set ropes in trees, ascend vertically, and walk limbs to traverse within the canopy of small and large trees.

Want to get more involved with our Community Tree Plantings and learn how you can become a Casey Trees Team Leader? If you have attended one or more CTPs in the last year, follow the links below to sign up for an upcoming Team Leader training! And reach out to volunteer@caseytrees.org with any questions
Thursday 10/24 – Team Leader Training
Tuesday 11/19 – Team Leader Training

If you love attending our events, consider donating to Casey Trees to help keep our programming going! Casey Trees relies on the support of friends, neighbors, and volunteers like you to make our work possible. Consider becoming a Casey Trees Member today and receive some incredible perks and benefits – all while doing your part to help build a greener place to live for us all.