Our Work
We are a nonprofit dedicated to planting and protecting trees in the National Capital Region for the wellbeing of the communities we serve. We envision a future where every person, in every community, lives among thriving trees and green spaces.
Since our founding in 2001, we’ve worked alongside volunteers, residents, community groups, the DC government, and surrounding municipalities to grow and sustain our region’s urban forest. Together, we’ve planted more than 70,000 trees—a shared investment in healthier, greener communities.
Join us as we work to make our city and region a greener, more sustainable place for everyone.
Our Mission
To plant and protect trees in the National Capital Region for the wellbeing of the communities we serve.
Our History
Known for more than 100 years as “the City of Trees,” DC’s urban canopy was shaped by former presidents George Washington, an accomplished horticulturalist, and Thomas Jefferson, who designed and executed the first street tree planting on record in the capital. Washington’s choice of Pierre L’Enfant as the architect of the city’s design proved significant. L’Enfant designed DC with tree-lined boulevards and tree-filled public parks, including Rock Creek Park, the oldest national urban park in the U.S.
Our founder, Betty Brown Casey, established Casey Trees in 2001 to preserve DC’s legacy as a renowned green urban environment. Today, the organization supports the beauty and health of DC and the National Capital Region by planting trees, engaging volunteers, educating the public about the power of trees, conserving land, and working with elected officials and community members to protect and care for green spaces.
Our Values
Thriving Together
Every tree, ecosystem, community – healthier
and more resilient.
Trees and thriving communities go hand in hand. A healthier urban forest means cooler neighborhoods, better physical and mental health, lower energy costs, and more beautiful places to gather and live. We measure success not by trees planted, but by communities and nature flourishing together.
Rooted in Community
In partnership with communities, providing access to quality trees and green spaces through stewardship, conservation, and education.
The strongest urban forest is built with communities, not delivered to them. We listen to local knowledge and work alongside residents, schools, civic groups, landowners, and public partners to respond and expand access to trees and green space, especially in communities that have historically had less of both.
Keep Growing
Innovate, adapt, and implement best practices across all programs, continuously learning to benefit trees, the urban forest, and thriving community spaces.
We bring curiosity and a commitment to continuous improvement to everything we do, learning from communities, partners, research, and our own experience along the way. As our region grows and changes, so do we, always in service of people, trees, and the spaces we share.
Here for Good
Building an organization meant to outlast us, providing long-term resilience for our communities and urban forest.
Trees count in decades, not years, so we take the long view: protecting what exists, restoring what’s been lost, and planning for the future. It’s the same vision our founder, Betty Brown Casey, built this organization on, one meant to endure and serve for generations to come.
The Farm
Our tree farm occupies 730 acres of land along the Shenandoah River in Berryville, VA. Originally surveyed by our first president and avid horticulturalist George Washington, the land was previously owned by our founder, Betty Brown Casey, who gifted the property to us to grow trees.
We produce over 8,000 trees at the farm each year, and have over 60k trees growing in our inventory. We grow trees at the farm to help provide the trees that will increase the canopy of the region, and we have dedicated 100 of the 730 acres of that land to sustainable tree production using techniques that prioritize long-term soil health and productivity while safeguarding the overall environment.
Join Us
Volunteer
If you are passionate about trees, we have a variety of volunteer opportunities, from tree planting to adult and youth education.
Careers
We are always looking for talented individuals that are energized by our mission of greening Washington, DC and the National Capital Region. If you want to go beyond volunteering and think you might be a good fit for our team, we encourage you to apply.