Tulsa’s top arborists – experts from Up With Trees, the City of Tulsa, Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, the OSU Extension Office and Tulsa Community College – will join efforts again to offer this program, modeled on Tulsa’s renowned Master Gardener program, to Tulsans.  Citizen Foresters will receive 16 hours of training, learning how to identify tree species, how to plant and maintain trees, and the value of urban forestry awareness and education. Program graduates will become part of an elite volunteer corps that will plant, maintain, prune and inventory trees in parks and other locations.

The “P’s of Trees” Citizen Forester classes (focusing on Planning, Planting, Preserving and Promoting Tulsa’s urban forest) will be held at the new Up With Trees building at 1102 S. Boston Ave. in downtown Tulsa. Participants will take short walks to nearby downtown tree sites for hands-on field applications as part of each session. All classes will be taught by certified arborists and professionals including local collegiate faculty and city officials. The cost for the program is a tax-deductible donation of $65, which includes all materials. Classes will be held 9 am-1 pm, four Wednesdays in a row, Sept 15, October6, 13 & 20, with a lunch provided by Up With Trees after class on the last day.

To be certified as a Citizen Forester, graduates will be asked to invest 20 hours of volunteer work annually – in the field, in the Up With Trees warehouse, or at events – and to take five hours of continuing education each year.

In addition to the training and class materials, Citizen Foresters will receive free admittance to continuing education courses, a one-year Up With Trees Membership, including UWT car decal, and a limited-edition Up With Trees Citizen Forester shirt, as well as the opportunity to join a Tulsa tree-identification nature hike hosted by a Tulsa arborist.

To apply for the Citizen Forester program,  click here for a Citizen Forester application or contact Up With Trees at 610-8733 or trees@upwithtrees.org to have an application mailed to you. Class size is limited, those who apply by March 6 will be given priority consideration.

“We’ve seen a tremendous interest in trees in general since the 2007 ice storm, and subsequent snow storms, damaged so many Tulsa trees,” said Up With Trees Executive Director Anna America. “I think people are really starting to understand how important trees are to making Tulsa a livable and healthy community, and they want to get involved and help. "

For information on other urban forestry educational happenings, please CLICK HERE to view our recent email campaign.  Up With Trees is a 34-year-old non-profit organization dedicated to planting, preserving and promoting Tulsa’s urban forest. Supported by donors and volunteers, it has planted more than 24,000 trees in the Tulsa area and maintains some 450 tree sites.

Last week, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), in partnership with T-Mobile USA and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), tipped off WNBA Green Week presented by T-Mobile.

During Green Week, the entire WNBA family teamed up to generate awareness to protect the environment, as players wore special on court apparel and teams and players participate in hands-on community service projects.

Five members of the Tulsa Shock – Chante Black, Shanna Crossley, Marion Jones, Natasha Lacy and Amanda Thompson – were joined by the Shock front office staff  and volunteered for Up With Trees by spreading mulch, pulling weeds and watering and pruning the park at the intersection of Riverside and 63rd Street.  Their efforts tidying up that part of our urban forest were immediately visible to the surrounding area.

“Up With Trees’ mission perfectly aligns with the green goals established by the WNBA and the Tulsa Shock,” said Shock President Steve Swetoha. “Tulsa is home for our players, coaches, staff and organization and it is our responsibility to care for and preserve the plentiful green space in this city.”

“We are thrilled to be working with the Tulsa Shock on this project and other environmental initiatives,” said Anna America, Executive Director of Up With Trees. “The Shock is a great example to youth of the importance of being healthy and staying active and that fits right in with our efforts to make Tulsa a greener, healthier city.”

Information Courtesy of  Tulsa Shock Media Relations

Oklahoma Forestry Conference Flyer (PDF)

Join us for an exciting event where urban forestry and fashion meet! “Redbuds & Runways” is a hip, energy-filled fundraiser benefiting Up With Trees, featuring a runway fashion show, local foods, live auction, raffles, giveaways and more. “Redbuds & Runways” will be held from at 7-10 p.m., Saturday, May 8th at Ivey (formerly Jewel), 3340 S. Peoria Ave., a new Tulsa hotspot, featuring a rooftop wine bar and lounge.

Entry tickets are $10 per person (21+) and can be purchased in advance at Up With Trees, or at the door the night of the event. Guests will exchange tickets for an entry glow bracelet, accenting the ambient urban décor of lighted live trees and a magnificent hand cut and painted backdrop of Tulsa’s skyline.

The night will kick off with an appetizing spread of hors d’oeuvres sponsored by local vendors. Ivey will feature a signature “Redbud Martini,” which half of those proceeds will directly benefit Up With Trees.

For trendsetters, we will showcase a runway fashion show featuring more than 30 concepts from local shops & designers. Clothing sponsors include Tulsa’s Little Black Dress, Cheap Thrills Vintage, Dwelling Spaces, Lois & Cluck, Ra$pberry Grunt, Sideways, Selah Couture, Terri’s and more. Ihloff Salon & Spas will sponsor hairstyling for the evening, and the Ihloff Creative Team will feature their intricate handmade recycled fashion designs. 106.9 KHITS & 92.9 KBEZ will be broadcasting live from the event.

The event will also highlight a live auction, full of cost-friendly Tulsa treasures. Raffles and giveaways will be promoted throughout the evening.

The event is the brainchild of Up With Trees Advisory Board Member, Laura Parrott. A third generation supporter of Up With Trees, she wanted to host an event that would attract a fun, young crowd – those who care about the growth of “Green” movements in Tulsa, and support local causes. After a little brainstorming, “Redbuds & Runways” was born.  “The Redbuds and Runways event not only benefits our city, but reaches out to a new group/generation of tree lovers and gets them involved” she said. “It’s up to our generation to carry on such a worthy cause. We’ve been so lucky to have a volunteer-based urban forestry organization tend Tulsa’s tree canopy for the last 30+ years, it’s our responsibility to make sure it’s cared for 30 more.”

Event tickets can be purchased online by clicking here (to be picked up at the door the night of) or at our location at 11th & Boston, at Terri’s, Dwelling Spaces, or the night of the event at Ivey. Space is limited so buy tickets early! Select sponsorship tables still available. For more information, please call (918) 610-TREE (8733), visit our website at www.upwithtrees.org or email laura@upwithtrees.org.

Thanks to a grant from the Apache Foundation, the Tulsa-based Up With Trees (UWT) will be distributing 5,000 3-gallon trees in a variety of species throughout Spring of ’10.

The majority of the trees are intended to be planted on the grounds of non-profit and government agencies, said Up With Trees Executive Director Anna America. “Our goal is to get these trees planted in the Tulsa area in public spaces that will help make the entire community a more beautiful and healthier place,” she said. Recipients are required to have someone on board who is knowledgeable about tree planting and care, or to take a “Tree Care” class, offered by Up With Trees on Thursday, March 25th at 9am, 10am, & 11 am, then again at 5pm, 6pm, & 7pm. These classes are filled on a first-come first-serve basis, space is limited. “We want to make sure these trees survive and are an asset to the city, which means people need to know where to plant them, how to plant them and how to take care of them” America said.

UWT has already given away more than 25,000 3-gallon trees thanks to the generous tree grants from the Apache Foundation. Individuals may also take advantage of this opportunity; recipients must make a tax-deductible donation of $10 per 4 trees.

Trees await new homes thanks to a generous tree grant from the Apache Foundation.

Pickup dates and times will begin for class attendees on March 25th. Following pickup times will begin on March 27th, from 2-4pm at the PSO substation field located on the west bank of the Arkansas River, at 3600 S. Elwood. Map to location is available, please CLICK HERE for a map to Apache Tree pickup site. Additional pickup dates/times will be on our online Up With Trees Calendar. Trees are all approximately 4-6 feet tall, and come in a variety of species suitable for the Oklahoma climate, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Organizations and individuals can download an application here:

• Apache Tree Application for Non-profits – Spring 2010
• Apache Application for Individuals – Spring 2010

Please email trees@upwithtrees.org for more information.

The program is made possible by the Apache Foundation’s nationwide tree-planting initiative. After it reached its first million tree goal in April 2009, the Houston-based company made a pledge to plant an additional million trees across the country. “They’ve had a tremendous impact on Tulsa’s tree canopy already, and we are excited to partner with them again,” America said. In the earlier round, dozens of Tulsa organizations, including churches, private schools, local governments and non-profits received trees and planted them. “So many of these groups are working on very limited funds and they would never have the money for trees, and they have been tremendously grateful,” she said. The free tree program gives a big boost to the ReGreen Tulsa effort, a partnership among Up With Trees, the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Community Foundation geared toward replacing trees lost in the devastating 2007 ice storm.

Public Service Co. of Oklahoma has donated space to temporarily store the trees at its facility at 3600 S. Elwood Ave. Groups can make pickup arrangements or have the trees delivered for a small fee; individuals will be able to pick up their trees following their one-hour Tree Care class held at the Up With Trees headquarters at 1102 S. Boston Ave. The workshops will be scheduled for several times in November, and participants must pre-register.

Thanks to the Apache Foundation’s Tree Grant Program, Tulsa and surrounding area organizations have been able to plant trees on their properties that have not only enhanced their landscapes, but provide shade, clean particulates from the air, produce oxygen, harbor birds and other wildlife, reduce noise, store carbon, and prohibit soil erosion. Friends and volunteers of Up With Trees know the countless health benefits trees can give back; alone, just one tree can extract as much as 1 ton of CO₂ from the atmosphere. “Properly planted trees can play vital roles in saving costs on utilities and grounds maintenance, in addition to the aesthetic improvement they provide. We are thankful to both Apache Foundation and the volunteers who help make this opportunity possible,” America said.

Tulsa’s urban forest covers 27% of our city, but a healthy city forest provides 45-40% coverage. By being a part of the Up With Trees Green Leaf Gala you will help to keep Tulsa’s urban forest growing and flourishing!

Consider supporting the valuable work of Up With Trees by being a part of this event. This is our single biggest fundraising effort each year, and your support will help us continue our tree-planting programs in parks, at schools and along Tulsa’s streets and highways, as well as enhance educational programs like our Citizen Forester program.

Gala guests will arrive at 6:30 pm to enjoy a live pianist, a complimentary cocktail and delicious appetizers.  Guests will be able to mingle and peruse our silent auction items before sitting down to an elegant dinner, followed by an exciting live auction with chances to bid on exclusive vacation packages, box seats for concert & sporting events, and much more.

Individual tickets are $75, and table sponsorships including seating for 10 start at $1,250. If you would like to purchase tickets, sponsor a table, make a donation for the auction, or would like to learn more about the work done by Up With Trees, please contact us at (918) 610-TREE (8733), trees@upwithtrees.org, or click here to learn more about our valuable programs.  All donations are tax-deductible.

Thanks for doing your part to keep Tulsa green!

Make gift-giving easy, while giving a gift to the community as well – dedicate a tree to be planted in honor of some one you care for.  Or, just do it for yourself.  It’s easy, earth-friendly and tax-deductible!

Volunteers Jillian Ellard and Laura Parrott (pictured above) show their pride in Tulsa’s trees.  We have four different short sleeve designs so you can clad your friends & family.  The 100% cotton T-shirts are only $15 each, and all profits will go to benefit our programs.  Come by the office at 1102 S. Boston during regular business hours, or call us at 610-8733.  Online purchasing coming soon.

p style=”text-align: center;”>All styles are available in sizes S-XL.

The majority of the trees are intended to be planted on the grounds of non-profit and government agencies, said Up With Trees Executive Director Anna America. “Our goal is to get these trees planted in the Tulsa area in public spaces that will help make the entire community a more beautiful and healthier place,” she said.  Recipients are required to have someone on board who is knowledgeable about tree planting and care, or to take a “Tree Care” class, offered by Up With Trees on Thursday, March 25th at 9am, 10am, & 11 am, then again at 5pm, 6pm, & 7pm.  These classes are filled on a first-come first-serve basis, space is limited. “We want to make sure these trees survive and are an asset to the city, which means people need to know where to plant them, how to plant them and how to take care of them” America said.

UWT has already given away more than 20,000 3-gallon trees thanks to the generous tree grants from the Apache Foundation.  Individuals may also take advantage of this opportunity;  recipients must make a tax-deductible donation of  $10 per 4 trees.

Trees await new homes thanks to a generous tree grant from the Apache Foundation.

Pickup dates and times will begin for class attendees on March 25th.  Following pickup times will begin on March 27th, from 2-4pm at the PSO substation field located on the west bank of the Arkansas River, at 3600 S. Elwood.  Map to location is available, please click here for map to Apache Tree  pickup location. Additional pickup dates/times will be on our online Up With Trees Calendar.  Trees are all approximately 4-6 feet tall, and come in a variety of species suitable for the Oklahoma climate, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Organizations and individuals can download an application here:

• Apache Tree Application for Non-profits – Spring 2010
• Apache Application for Individuals – Spring 2010

Please email trees@upwithtrees.org for more information.

The program is made possible by the Apache Foundation’s nationwide tree-planting initiative. After it reached its first million tree goal in April 2009, the Houston-based company made a pledge to plant an additional million trees across the country. “They’ve had a tremendous impact on Tulsa’s tree canopy already, and we are excited to partner with them again,” America said. In the earlier round, dozens of Tulsa organizations, including churches, private schools, local governments and non-profits received trees and planted them. “So many of these groups are working on very limited funds and they would never have the money for trees, and they have been tremendously grateful,” she said. The free tree program gives a big boost to the ReGreen Tulsa effort, a partnership among Up With Trees, the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Community Foundation geared toward replacing trees lost in the devastating 2007 ice storm.

Public Service Co. of Oklahoma has donated space to temporarily store the trees at its facility at 3600 S. Elwood Ave. Groups can make pickup arrangements or have the trees delivered for a small fee; individuals will be able to pick up their trees following their one-hour Tree Care class held at the Up With Trees headquarters at 1102 S. Boston Ave. The workshops will be scheduled for several times in November, and participants must pre-register.

Thanks to the Apache Foundation’s Tree Grant Program, Tulsa and surrounding area organizations have been able to plant trees on their properties that have not only enhanced their landscapes, but provide shade, clean particulates from the air, produce oxygen, harbor birds and other wildlife, reduce noise, store carbon, and prohibit soil erosion.  Friends and volunteers of Up With Trees know the countless health benefits trees can give back; alone, just one tree can extract as much as 1 ton of CO₂ from the atmosphere.  “Properly planted trees can play vital roles in saving costs on utilities and grounds maintenance, in addition to the aesthetic improvement they provide.  We are thankful to both Apache Foundation and the volunteers who help make this opportunity possible,” America said.

FAQ: NeighborWoods

What exactly is it? A program sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation for neighborhood groups to receive one free tree per homeowner who desires one for their front yard.

Home Depot Volunteers help Florence South neighbor plant a tree in her front yard during a NeighborWoods planting.

Who plants? Volunteers from the neighborhood & community including homeowners themselves, civic groups, schools, & Up With Trees crew. If a homeowner is unable to plant, they are encouraged to assist in other ways, e.g., providing light snacks & beverages for volunteers the morning of the planting day kick-off.

Which neighborhoods? All neighborhoods within the City of Tulsa at this time. We hope to expand this program after we reach our matching grant goal through the ReGreen Tulsa initiative.

When? NeighborWoods plantings occur during our planting season from October through April on Saturday mornings (beginning at 10 a.m.), as scheduled by Up With Trees.

You plant throughout winter? Yes!  Winter time is a great time to plant.  Trees are dormant and therefore receive minimal transplant shock.

Can I choose my tree type & planting site? Yes!  Homeowners select their preference from a list of native “Tulsa tested” available trees, including shade, ornamental and evergreen trees.  Up With Trees will confirm the right tree for the right place site wise based on city ordinances.

How do I participate? Click here to download a NeighborWoods application or call the Up With Trees office at (918) 610-TREE.  A lead representative from the neighborhood group can fill out one application for the entire area, then coordinate delivery and collection of approval forms with individual homeowners.  It’s as easy as that!

Proposed projects must:

• improve/beautify a city neighborhood or public space through a physical improvement
• involve neighborhood  and community residents
• have long-standing, sustainable benefits
• be located in a city neighborhood or public space
• have the necessary plans before starting the improvements
• provide a maintenance plan for the upkeep of the completed project

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
Your organization is eligible to participate in the program if it meets the following criteria:

• it is a neighborhood/homeowners association registered with the City of Tulsa or a registered non-profit organization
• it represents a specific geographic area and not the entire city and
• it is located within the Tulsa city limits

Private businesses and individuals are not eligible to submit an application, but eligible organizations are encouraged to generate support and partner with them in planning and completing a project.

HOW DOES THE MATCH WORK?
TBF will match dollar for dollar ($1:$1) the funds raised by a grantee organization.  As a part of the matching requirement, volunteer hours, valued at $16.19/hr, may account for up to 35% of the match by the applicant organization.  In addition, donated materials to complete the project may also be used in calculating the applicant match.

WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS CAN BE FUNDED AND WHAT ARE THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS?
The program helps pay for physical improvements that provide tangible benefits to the community outside of just aesthetic improvements.  The program will not pay for on-going operation or maintenance, such as upkeep of landscaping or repairs to monument signs.  The applicant organization must identify how the organization will fund and maintain the project in the future.  In addition, work conducted by a professional contractor is discouraged unless otherwise necessary. However, if a professional contractor is used, three (3) bids for services must be included with this application.

Projects may require permits or permissions from the City of Tulsa, the Tulsa Parks Department and/or a utilities company if located in a public park, right of away, etc. Depending on the project, there may be additional requirements as well. It is the applicant organization’s responsibility to check on all requirements for their particular project.  As a result, winning grant applications will be reviewed by the City of Tulsa’s Development Services to ensure the application includes proper planning to obtain all the necessary permits and permissions if applicable before beginning the project. Therefore, a project will be subject to inspection by the City and/or the Parks Department to ensure the work is compliant with the permitting requirements.

HOW TO APPLY
The application must be filled out with information about the organization and a project description.

Download the complete packet and application

WHEN MAY PROJECTS BE STARTED AND WHAT IS THE PROJECT COMPLETION DATE?
In order to take advantage of this program, a project may be started only after the application has been approved by TBF. An application will only be considered if it is completed fully and all of the required, applicable documentation is attached. The Fall application must be postmarked or emailed by October 16 and the Spring application must be postmarked or emailed by March 1. All project work should be completed within approximately ninety (90) days after receiving notification as an awarded applicant. Project deadlines may be extended on a case by case basis upon request to TBF.

HOW ARE FUNDS DISBURSED TO GRANTEES?
The organization’s grant application must be approved by TBF’s grant committee.  An approved application serves as a notice to the organization to proceed with the project. Once the project is completed, the City will conduct an inspection to verify the work. When verification is finished and a complete itemized list of expenses with receipts/invoices is submitted, the matching grant reimbursement to the organization will be processed. Reimbursements in full amount of the approved matching funds will be made within 30 calendar days of inspection and final approval. No reimbursements for eligible expenses will be made if such expenses occur before an application is approved by the TBF grant committee.

WHO TO CONTACT AND WHERE TO SEND APPLICATION
For questions contact either Kurt English at the City of Tulsa, 596-7596, kenglish@cityoftulsa.org; or Josh Miller at the Tulsa Beautification Foundation, 591-2426

Applications can be mailed or emailed to:
Tulsa Beautification Foundation
Attn: Josh Miller
7030 S Yale, Suite 600
Tulsa, OK 74136
Email: josh@gkff.org