There's no better place to stay cool than under the shade of trees' leafy canopies. Remember, trees cool us down in two ways: by providing shade and releasing water vapor through their leaves, which helps lower air temperature.

Just like you need to stay hydrated, trees need water too (even EXTRA), especially during hot weather. You can help our trees by watering them deeply and regularly to keep them healthy and cool. Find a tree near you and show it some TLC by using our adopt a tree interactive map! And check out this this video from our friends at TreePeople for instructions on how to properly water your tree. In addition to staying hydrated yourself, limit strenuous activity during peak heat, and enjoy the cool comfort trees offer. Together, let's beat the heat and keep our green friends healthy!

Our second Teen Tree Summit was held on Saturday, June 15. It was a wonderful and beautiful event! Planned by our Teen Urban Tree Corps participants and Joshua Reed and Jamila dePieza Kern, our education team, and hosted by the Arnold Arboretum, the event celebrated youth working for environmental justice groups in the Greater Boston area that included BOLD (Breath of Life Dorchester) Teens, Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP), Green Cambridge’s Canopy Crew, and Youth Climate Action Network at Boston Latin School. The event began with a poetry workshop that addressed climate anxiety, led by Priya Dixit, Marketing and Communications Fellow at Mass Audubon. The workshop was followed by multiple youth-led hands-on workshops.

Thank you to all of the community partners who came out and made the event so successful. This event was made possible with generous support from the US Forest Service, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the Boston Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity.

Join us on Saturday, June 29, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for the 3rd annual Boston Urban Forest Friends Symposium, a gathering of local organizations, community groups, and individuals dedicated to increasing partnerships and collaboration for the growth of Boston's urban canopy. This year, it will be held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center (1350 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120). Come hear from inspiring local leaders in the urban forestry movement. In addition to our incredible speakers, we will host an engaging panel discussion where experts, community members, and advocates come together to address pressing topics related to Boston's urban forest. Share your perspectives, ask questions, and contribute to the conversation alongside influential voices in the field. 

You can register here. We hope to see you there! 

We were recently delighted to see a heartwarming update on Facebook from a 2020 tree giveaway recipient. The post showed the story not just of a thriving tree, but also a special relationship between the recipient's great nephew, Kaiden, and the tree, a cherry blossom lovingly named "Yoshi." Seeing them grow together, literally and figuratively, reminds us that the impact of our tree giveaways extends far beyond planting trees. It fosters connections between people and nature, creating memories and fostering a love for the environment that can last a lifetime. You can read Kaiden’s initial tree story here.

The Spring of 2024 NeighborWoods planting season was a great success. With support from Boston's Tree Alliance, our staff planted eight trees at residential homes in Dorchester and Hyde Park. These city residents had little to no canopy coverage and were thrilled to receive trees to provide them with shade and coolness. In order to ensure the trees’ survivability, all recipients received a watering bag and detailed instructions on how to care for their trees.

For example, did you know that during the hot summer months newly planted trees need about 10 -15 gallons of water per inch diameter of tree? And that during heat advisories it is beneficial to provide an additional 10-15 gallons of water per week until the temperatures cool down. Do you live in Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde Park, or Mattapan and have a yard that needs a tree? Apply here at our NeighborWoods webpage.

Trying to figure out what your perfect day would look like? Well, Jerel Ferguson, our Community Outreach Manager has some tips for you. Check out Jerel’s featured article in the Boston Globe: ‘Here’s how to spend the perfect day in Dorchester’. In it, he credits the Blue Hills Reservation for his initial interest in forestry, saying, “I learned how to hike, learned trails, listened to the sounds of nature. It guided me deeper and deeper into the forest, and deeper and deeper into the person that I am today, learning about the trees, learning about different plants.” Read the article here.  And see you at microfoest.