Upcoming events
Check out what’s next! Our events are FREE! Click on the event to learn more and register!
Potting Party
Our potting parties are held rain or shine. Parking is off-site with a volunteer shuttle. Tools, gloves, snacks and beverages will be provided.
Please feel free to share this link with friends who'd enjoy visiting with the community, playing with plants and trees and supporting Tacoma's urban canopy!
You will be emailed with more details the week before the event. And as always! Thank you for supporting Tacoma our greening efforts.
Fungi Connections: Mycology 101 with Lisa Kenny
What you’ll learn:
How mycology can support community resilience
What fungi/mycelium are with an overview of the Fungi kingdom
Benefits and uses of fungi
Inoculation process
Nature Explorers Walk at PNW Native Plant Garden
Let your curiosity guide you as we learn and wander through the Point Defiance Northwest Native Plants Garden.Explore all of the variety and beauty that grows out of our soil. Afterwards, head to the Old Town Craft & Music Fest from 11am-3pm and visit our friends from the Job Carr museum.
Take Root
Let’s take root together! Join us to sustain Tacoma’s communities and trees amidst the pressures of climate change and rapid development.
Bilingual Mindfulness Walk at Snake Lake
Breathe in the fresh morning air, breathe out stress that is weighing you down. In this walk we will practice mindfulness, being present in our natural world, and finding peace away from the distractions of our bustling lives. Our walks happen rain or shine so come prepared according to the day’s forecast with the appropriate clothing to have the best walk experience. No pets and no bikes are allowed at the Nature Center
Traveling Through Time with Trees with Sarah Low
How old is the oldest tree in the world? Find out by traveling 290 million years into the past, and learn about trees that lived among dinosaurs, trees whose spread covers 100 acres, and many other living marvels.
Summer Solstice Neighborhood Tree Walk
Celebrate the first day of summer with trees and water! Walking from UW Tacoma to the iconic Thea Foss Waterway, learn how trees are managed in a downtown landscape and they interact with stormwater runoff. Dress appropriately for PNW summer weather. Prepare to walk approximately 2 miles on pavement, up and down stairs and steep streets.
Trees and the Urban Landscape Walk with Sarah Low
On our daily commute or walk through Tacoma, what are we overlooking? Take a stroll through War Memorial Park with us and notice the little things that we ordinarily pass by, like black tupelo and other plants! We’ll contemplate how we live and interact with our environment while surrounded by the busyness of the highways and traffic that dominate our urban habitat.
Sustainability Expo
Visit our Tree Share and Informational Booth at the 17th Annual South Sound Sustainability Expo!
Decreasing Canopy Change - A Presentation with Sarah Low
Tree canopy is declining in cities across the US. Even with planting efforts, the overall canopy is dwindling. Sarah Low will discuss some reasons for this, the consequences associated with lost tree canopy, and the role policy plays in helping to stabilize and increase canopy. Finally, we will focus on how Tacoma can protect itself from tree canopy loss.
Relaciones Reciprocas: la Tierra y Nosotras
En este taller de escritura somática, practicaremos la respiración, la afirmación, la terapia somática, la escritura y el compartir durante nuestro tiempo juntes.
During this somatic writing workshop, we will practice using breath, affirmation, somatic therapy, writing, and sharing during our time together.
Nature Mindfulness Walk Franklin Park with Sarah Low
Away from screens, listening to the songs of birds, and watching the branches sway in the breeze, we can find peace. As we emerge from our winter cocoons, come practice mindfulness with us and learn strategies to help ground yourself in the season ahead.
Earth Day Celebration at Meridian Habitat Park
Join us in celebrating Earth Day on Saturday, April 12, from 11 am to 2 pm at Meridian Habitat Park! Immerse yourself in the great outdoors and take part in a variety of free demonstrations, nature activities, and games suitable for all ages. It's a day filled with fun and learning as we come together to appreciate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Green Blocks: Parkland-Midland Tree Share
Visit with our tree experts, ask questions, pick out your plants, receive planting advice and visit with neighbors at our Tree Share Event.
Green Blocks: Parkland-Midland Planting Event
The Tacoma Tree Foundation is bringing trees to Parkland and Midland in April! Our goal is to distribute hundreds of trees to the area. Trees reduce polluted stormwater, cool neighborhoods, slow traffic, and help residents create a greener community.
Vernal Equinox Tree Walk at Chinese Reconciliation Park
The vernal (meaning fresh) equinox is when the sun is directly over the equator–in other words, the first day of spring! Join us at Chinese Reconciliation Park to enjoy the change of season together and the beautiful plants that fill this waterside park. Our walks happen rain or shine.
Green Blocks: Hilltop Planting Event
Green Blocks: Hilltop provides planting assistance to participants who need it. Thank you for helping us provide this integral service. Our planting events are family and ability-friendly and we do our best to accommodate multilingual speakers. We welcome young kids and volunteers of all abilities to partake in the magic of planting a tree. It is important to us that our entire community be included in these events. When you register you can let us know what access needs you might need to engage fully. REGISTER HERE
March 22nd - 9am-1pm
Peace Lutheran Church Parking Lot - 2106 S. Cushman Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405
9:00 - Volunteer Check-In (Coffee and light snacks)
9:15 - 1pm - Welcome, Planting Demo, Volunteer Orientation and then Planting
Hilltop Neighborhood Tree Walk & Roll
Whether you prefer to walk or roll, this event will bring you joy as we admire Hilltop’s diverse trees.
Puyallup Tribal Tree Share
Come pick up free native shrubs and trees for your property! All plants are in 1 to 4 gallon containers and are first come first serve. Connect with our plant experts to choose the right plants for the right place on your property.
North End Neighborhood Volunteer Training
Did you know there are many parts of the North End where tree canopy coverage is lower than the city average? This spring, we are teaming up with the North End Neighborhood Council to promote tree planting opportunities in the least-shaded parts of the neighborhood!
Join us for a volunteer canvassing training on March 6th to learn how to talk to your North End neighbors about all the different ways they can access trees and planting resources. We will share our new maps of the best blocks for street trees in the neighborhood. Then, on Saturday, March 8th, we will organize a door-knocking activity to get the word out about the benefits of having trees in every neighborhood.
Location: Mason United Methodist Church, 2710 N Madison St, Tacoma, WA 98407—Classroom 114
This project is being funded by a Sustainability Small Grant from the City of Tacoma’s Environmental Services Department.
Native, Adaptive, Invasive: A Conversation
Join a diverse panel of advocates and experts to explore the relationship between native and adaptive species, the difference between adaptive and invasive species, the demands of climate change on gardening, landscaping, and urban forestry, and how to advocate for native species while cultivating environmental justice.
Church + Trees Webinar
How churches can access, fund, plant & preserve trees as faith-based climate resilience. FREE. Register now to secure your spot.
Likely to Fail?: The Role of Arborists in Determining Tree Health
How well do arborists assess the likelihood of failure due to decay? Join us to learn the results of research conducted to determine how arborists and the tools they use are involved in determining tree health.
Donkey Creek Tree Share
Celebrate the new year by adopting trees and shrubs for your neighborhood!
South Tacoma Library Tree Share
We can have more trees and more affordable housing. Join the community conversation and gathering to build more empathy for our unhoused neighbors at the South Tacoma Library Feb 1st from 3-4:30. Pick up a free tree or shrub from 2:30-5pm.
McKinley Neighborhood Tree Walk
Get to know McKinley Hill through its Western redcedars, Doug-first, and birches, and find beauty in our winter streetscapes! We’ll also learn about street trees and their benefits, finding the right spot for specific tree species, and we’ll connect with each other. Join us! Our walks are held rain or shine!
Lauren E. Oakes with Pooja S. Tandon and Lowell Wyse
Lauren E. Oakes discusses her new forestry book with pediatrician, professor, and researcher Pooja S. Tandon and Lowell Wyse, the Executive Director of Tacoma Tree Foundation. Treekeepers shows how the path from climate change to a habitable future winds through the world’s forests.
Hilltop Tree Stewards Training
Do you care about Hilltop? Would you like to help increase its tree canopy?
You will learn information on tree selection, planting, and pruning young trees. Participants will also learn how to communicate about trees with their neighbors and how to engage in the Hilltop tree planting and tree care event.
Technical Pruning Workshop
Did you plant a tree 3-5 years ago? You’re done establishing your tree! What comes next? PRUNING! Now is a good time to learn how to properly care for it by pruning it at the right times and in the right way, so that it can continue to grow healthy and reach maturity.
Join Sarah Low, the Tacoma Tree Foundation, and the City of Tacoma, Urban Forestry Program for this hands-on workshop.
This Program is funded with the support of the Community Tree Program.
Felt Forests Workshop
Get into the holiday spirit with TTF and Remakery at this fun workshop where we’ll learn how to use reclaimed and donated fibers to needle adorable little trees with felt!
FirFest
Pick up your FREE TREE!
We invite you to join the work party to help preserve our Fircrest Green Space at Whittier Park! Bring your gloved and tools! Our friends from the Pierce Conservation District will lead us at the work party! Register HERE.
State of the Urban Forest 2024
Join Tacoma Tree Foundation Executive Director, Lowell Wyse, to learn how we can seize this moment and grow our love of trees into a movement that sustains our region’s urban forests through the climate challenges of the 21st century.
Branch Out - Volunteer Planting Event
Please bring your own water bottle and gloves if you prefer them them. Dress for all weather, dirt/mud and sturdy shoes. TTF will provide all planting tools and equipment, coffee, snacks, water and gloves.
Branch Out provides planting assistance to participants that need it. This is an offsite planting event, which means you'll be driving from planting site to planting site, either in a carravan of cars or carpooling. TTF will divide up all registered volunteers into small planting teams lead by a TTF Training Tree Captain. As a group you'll travel to 2-5 planting sites, meet the resident and plant their tree for them.
Requesting Teams: Please list the names of fellow volunteers you'd like to be grouped with, if applicable.
Under-Age Volunteers: If you'd like to bring a minor, please list their names and ages in the volunteer request box. Each minor that accompanies you will be your responsibilty. All adults (18+) need to register individually.
Please provide any other needs or details in the accessibility box (i.e. I will have a stroller, I need to leave early, spanish speaking team would be prefered.)
9:00 - Volunteer Check-In (Coffee and light snacks)
9:15 - Welcome - Planting Demo - Volunteer Orientation
10:00 -1pm - Planting
Swan Creek Park Tree Walk with Sarah Low
Doug-firs, Pacific madrones, and Western redcedars are just some of the many beautiful trees that live and grow in Swan Creek’s wondrous urban forest. Come walk with us, learn how to identify native and adaptive species, and listen for the sounds of fall.
Branch Out
Help us find fir-ever homes for these trees in Hilltop, Eastside, South End and South Tacoma neighborhoods.
Branch Out is a tree giveaway collaboration between multiple community partners to collectively grow the Tacoma-area urban forest. Our intent is to uplift and call out the intersection of trees, human health, equity, and community building. Past and present community partners with Tacoma Tree Foundation include: Homeownership Center NW, Valeo Vocation, VFW McKinley, SunAlliance, Tacoma Public Schools, Pierce Conservation District, City of Tacoma Urban Forestry Program, and Pierce County Parks. Funding for Branch Out is provided by the City of Tacoma and the Community Tree Program.
We believe that everyone deserves tree-lined streets, but Tacoma’s tree canopy is distributed unevenly. Each Branch Out tree that is planted in our focus neighborhoods helps close the tree equity gap, helping all of Tacoma’s communities grow healthier, happier, and grittier in the face of pollution and extreme weather.
