Team Leaders are young adults, ages 19-24, who supervise youth in caring for Boston's tree canopy by engaging in tree identification, climbing, plantings, waterings and more. This is a paid position of $17-$20/hr for 30 hours a week. Find out more and apply on our website.

Are you a Boston teen, ages 14-18, interested in learning how to improve Boston’s environment? Join us in caring for Boston’s trees, learning about careers in forestry, visiting some of Boston’s best green spaces, and more! Teens are paid $15/hr for 25 hours a week throughout the six-week program.

Boston Urban Forest Friends (BUFF) is a coalition of organizations, community groups, and individuals focused on increasing partnerships and collaboration around growing Boston’s urban canopy.

Next meeting: Friday February 10th

11am-12pm via Zoom

Come join our friends at H.E.R.O. Nurturing Center at Boston Nature Center for their annual silent walk for Black History Month, followed by their informal Art2Heart event with crafts, music and snacks. Nature Healing Walks help people to reconnect with nature and develop tools to live healthier lifestyles and become more connected with their bodies and the environment. The walk will take place rain or shine, with plans to move inside the Boston Nature Center if weather requires. 

Nature Walk: Feb 11th from 2-3 PM 

Art2Heart Event: Feb 11th from 3-4 PM 

Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan

Tracy invests her professional energy to promote environmental stewardship and justice. She has been serving the nonprofit sector since 2006 as a staff member, board member, and consultant. Tracy's professional foundation is actually in Mechanical Engineering. She holds a Masters degree from MIT, a Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University, and spent the early part of her career as an aeromechanics and software engineer. Tracy migrated to the nonprofit environmental field during the years that she stayed home full time to raise her son, first as the Associate Development Director at Groundwork Lawrence in Lawrence and then as the Development Director for EforAll in Lowell. For the past 5 years, she has run her own consulting business focused on the symbiosis between fundraising and strategic planning for clients primarily in the Greater Boston area, largely in Lawrence, Lowell, and Dorchester. Tracy has recently joined the staff of the Ipswich River Watershed Association as their Director of Development and Engagement.

Sami is a sophomore at the University of Vermont, perusing a degree in studio arts and environmental studies. She is passionate about issues surrounding environmental justice and climate change. She believes that working with youth is a powerful way to protect our future. Sami is an artist, an animal lover and an explorer of the outdoors. She has a dog named Maggie, two pet hermit crabs and many beloved house plants. This semester Sami is our Education Fellow through the College for Social Innovation.

A large majority of the happiest, least stressful, and most meaningful jobs in America are those that have to do with - you guessed it - trees! Researchers have found strong correlations between mental health and being outdoors, so it is not surprise those who work outdoors in agriculture, logging, and forestry have higher levels of happiness and find the most meaning in their occupation. 

European research has found that increasing tree cover from 14.9% to 30% can lower city temperatures by 0.4C, which would reduce heat-related deaths by 39.5%. Tree cover is becoming increasingly important as climate change causes extreme temperature fluctuations. Trees provide multiple health benefits such as reducing heat-related deaths, reducing cardiovascular disease, dementia, and poor mental health. 

• Have a nearby park that could use some trees?
• Is your street bare and hot in the summer?
• Is your school or local business looking empty?

We're here to support community projects that will bring trees to you and your neighborhood. Please fill out our brief tree planting proposal form and we'll reach out.