If you want to make a contribution to Cleveland that will last for decades, maybe even a century, consider joining the effort to restore the city’s tree canopy.
A program that helps residents get started is now taking applications for its fall session.
The Sherwick Tree Steward Training Program, run by Western Reserve Land Conservancy, teaches people how to plant and care for trees in the city. Stewards have planted and helped maintain more than 2,100 trees since 2020.
“It’s amazing the difference [trees] make,” said Kate Christian, a member of Slavic Village Development’s Green Team who participated in the training in 2024. The training introduced her to the many health, economic and community-building benefits of a vibrant urban forest.
“I had very little knowledge about trees [before the training], and it was not taught over anybody’s heads,” Christian said. “I was so impressed with the breakdown of information and the engagement with people.”
There are two ways to participate, through online or in-person instruction.
The deadline to apply for the online classes is Aug. 13. Those sessions will be held on Zoom on Aug. 17 and 24, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The deadline to apply for in-person classes is Aug. 26. Those classes will meet at the Midtown Collaboration Center, 1974 E. 66th St. (on the RTA Healthline route), on Sept. 2 and 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.
In both options, the first session focuses on the broader urban forestry landscape in Cleveland, basic tree biology and tips for engaging with other residents. The second session emphasizes practical tree stewardship skills, including how to select a tree for a location and how to care for it.
Both options culminate in a hands-on planting lab on a Saturday morning in the fall, date and location to be determined.
Applications are accepted online on a rolling basis, so it’s better to apply as soon as possible.
