New Year's Resolution Already Failing You? Let Casey Trees Help!

It's already the second week of 2012 which means you've probably already given up on that fool-proof New Year's resolution you swore to yourself you'd stick to.

You know – the annual lose weight, quit smoking, exercise more aspiration that lasts just a few weeks before the temptation and stresses of everyday life set in? Yes, that one.

Well this year, why don't you try something different?

More and more people are trading in their yearly self-improvement resolutions, and instead are looking to make the New Year a charitable one. Think about giving your New Year's resolution a much-needed makeover and add “giving back” to your list of goals for 2012. It's an easy goal to keep and more times than not can give you the personal satisfaction those hours on a treadmill couldn't.

At Casey Trees we have a number of opportunities that can help you achieve your New Year's Resolution, and at the same time help our city and your neighbors. Here are a few ways for you to reach your 2012 charitable goal:

• Donate/Become a Sponsor. As a non-profit, Casey Trees relies on the generosity of people like you to add trees to our city's parks, schools, and neighborhoods throughout the year. Consider making a tax-deductible donation this year. You can also make a larger gift and sponsor a Tree Planting event ($2,500) or one of our High School Summer Crew members ($4,000) and make a difference in a young person's life this year.
• Volunteer. Casey Trees offers volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels from our tree planting events in the spring and fall, to our tree care programs, and advocacy work. Those looking to have a more proactive world should consider becoming a Citizen Forester. You can register for our volunteer events online through our Events Calendar.
• Take a Class. Casey Trees hosts free year-round educational courses on topics ranging from basic tree biology to proper tree care to community advocacy training classes. Attending one of our classes also qualifies you as a Casey Trees Citizen Forester.

Try something a little different and join Casey Trees this New Year and make that 2012 resolution a success.

Where, Oh Where Are You American Elms? Our Map Tells You.

Casey Trees has planted more than 2,000 American elms across D.C. through our American Elm Restoration program since 2003. You might wonder: where are all of these trees planted?

We have planted American elms in every ward, restoring historic elm corridors such as Massachusetts Avenue NW and Constitution Avenue NE, as well as street trees in neighborhoods like Brookland and Mount Pleasant.

To help you locate where new American elms are calling home, our savvy Technical Services and Research department mapped them for you. Check it out.



Click on individual points on the map to view Street View or find out the size of the tree (DBH - diameter at breast height). You can zoom and pan the map to explore our planting sites throughout D.C. If you are on a mobile phone or tablet, try a full-screen version of the same map.

This map was created using Google Fusion Tables from data collected at planting sites. Check out other maps on our website.

Want to learn more about American elms? Tune in for our online chat about them today at noon. If you miss the session, the chat will be archived on our website for you to check out at your leisure.

Update:
So we mentioned "over 2,000" elms planted and as you can see we planted American elms just about everywhere in DC. How does that break down by ward? Here are some additional statistics of American elms planted by ward:

Ward 1: 201
Ward 2: 158
Ward 3: 110
Ward 4: 374
Ward 5: 209
Ward 6: 509
Ward 7: 324
Ward 8: 149
Total: 2034 American elms planted since 2003 by Casey Trees.

Tune in for Tomorrow's Tree Talk Thursday!

For tomorrow's Tree Talk Thursday session, we will be discussing American elms. From 12 noon until 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, tune into the live online chat to ask questions and get instant answers from the experts. The chat will feature Jim Woodworth, our Director of Tree Planting. Jim will explain Casey Trees' American Elm Restoration program, what kinds of elms we plant and lots more about the history of elms in D.C.

Tune in here at noon tomorrow, January 12, to join the chat. If you would like a reminder before the event, enter your email address on the page and you'll be invited to join when the chat starts.

You can also view our past Tree Talk Thursday chat sessions about choosing an arborist, the pending tree bill and other timely tree topics. Submit questions during the chat or ahead of time by e-mailing us at treedc@caseytrees.org or tweeting @CaseyTrees. We look forward to seeing you there!

Be like John, become a Citizen Forester

Just who in D.C. helps to plant trees and advocate for greater tree protection? People like John Clary.

In this month's Leaflet, we profiled John, a Citizen Forester since 2011. Get to know John by reading the feature below and then train to be a Citizen Forester yourself by registering for one or all qualifying classes - Trees 101, Stand Up for Trees and Tree Planting. All classes are free but advance registration is required and space is limited.

Thanks for all your help John!

________________________________________________________________________________________

John Clary wanted to know the difference between scarlet and pin oaks.

In fall 2010, the first-year Citizen Forester took a forest ecology class with some people who had volunteered with Casey Trees. They told him about the Casey Trees’ street tree map and that’s where he started his search.

After learning more about Casey Trees, he enrolled in Trees 101 in February 2011 and attended a few pruning events during the summer.

The 27-year-old Shaw resident grew up near Chicago and moved to the District in 2008 for work. Some of his fondest tree memories include rope swings, tree houses, and diving platforms. As an adult living in the District, Clary realizes trees offer more than just recreational benefits.

“Without our shade trees, we couldn’t survive the brutal D.C. summers,” he said.

Clary enjoys waking up on Saturdays to plant — do not forget the coffee! — but the community aspect of the Community Tree Planting program is what makes him excited for next season.

“The opportunity to see new parts of the city and meet other tree enthusiasts, including the outstanding Casey Trees staff, has been most enjoyable,” he said.

D.C.’s trees mean a lot to Clary, who testified in a D.C. Council public hearing in December on the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganization Act of 2011. Again, community is at the heart of Clary’s service.

“It’s humbling to think that a tree you’ve planted has the potential to survive well beyond your own lifetime,” Clary said. “That’s a long-term investment in your community.”

A Special Thank You to all of our Supporters

As the New Year begins, we at Casey Trees wanted to take the time and reflect on the successes of 2011 and send a special thank you to all of our friends and allies who made contributions in 2011. With the help of their generosity, Casey Trees was able to plant more trees, engage more volunteers, and educate more citizens than in any previous year since our inception a decade ago.

This was truly a banner year for us, and it was only made possible thanks to our loyal supporters – people just like you – whose donations throughout 2011 went towards our record-setting tree planting and education initiatives. It is exactly this type of dedication and commitment to our city’s trees that makes the work that we do worthwhile – so again we say thank you.

If you didn’t get a chance to give in 2011 and would like to, you can make a contribution either electronically or by mail. If you have any questions regarding Casey Trees or your donation, feel free to contact the Development department at development@caseytrees.org or at (202) 349-3470.

Here’s to an even better (and greener) 2012.

Friday Photo Feature: January 6, 2012

In celebration of American Elm Restoration month, a photo of the lovely elms on the National Mall.

Pruning American Elms This Winter

Brrr, January may be one of the colder months of the year, but that hasn't stopped you from filling up our pruning workshop scheduled for January 14. Barry Stahl, horticulturist for the National Park Service, will be leading workshop attendees in proper pruning techniques and introducing them to the American Elm program at Daingerfield Island, where the workshop will take place. The morning will begin with an indoor lecture about the proper way to approach pruning and methods that help trees develop healthy structure. Attendees will then head outside and use their new-found knowledge to help prune elm trees that may end up on the National Mall someday. Read our account of last year's elm pruning workshop.

Unfortunately, the pruning class is full, but don't let that stop you from checking out our calendar and signing up for any of the other open classes currently listed, such as our Trees 201 class on January 28th geared towards Citizen Forester, Project Organizers and others who want to learn more about tree identification.

Casey Trees' e-Newsletter gets a facelift

New year, new design!

Casey Trees officially turns 10 in February and to kick off the birthday celebrations a little early, we redesigned our newsletter, The Leaflet.

Among the changes is the way content is laid out. You can now read Casey Trees and general urban forestry news briefs as soon as you open the newsletter.

 Following the News in Brief pages, stories will be categorized by section to allow readers to find topics they are most interested in. Sections include:

• From the Desk: A bi-monthly letter from Casey Trees Executive Director Mark Buscaino
• Tree Planting: Articles about Casey Trees’ tree planting programs, initiatives and partnerships
• Technology & Research: Highlighting urban forestry tools, research and analysis from Casey Trees and its partners
• Planning & Design: Focus on Casey Trees’ planning and design work in the District
• Education: Information on Casey Trees’ educational outreach
• Spotlight: Profile stories on Citizen Foresters, donors, project organizers, board members and staff
• Giving: Ways to financially support Casey Trees’ programs
• Volunteer: Available volunteer opportunities
• Advocacy: Stories about urban forestry protection efforts by Casey Trees, our partners and D.C. citizens
• Tree Care: Helpful hints on tree care techniques
• Citizen Forester Update: The central news source for Casey Trees’ Citizen Foresters
• Arbor Kids: Fun and educational forestry activities for children

The updated look reflects Casey Trees’ new outreach materials, featuring added white space, more vibrant colors and cleaner graphics.

Check out the January issue and remember to sign up for The Leaflet to begin receiving it on a monthly basis in February.