How to Get Involved with Casey Trees

Casey Trees offers five direct ways to get involved: plant trees, advocate for tree-protection policy, volunteer, join their team, or nominate a space in Washington, DC that needs new trees. All five are listed under "Get Involved" on caseytrees.org, and the right one for you depends on whether you want to act on the ground, support policy, give time, work for the organization, or simply point them toward a location.

The five involvement paths

Plant Trees

Casey Trees describes its planting work as offering "tree planting solutions with the greatest possible environmental and ecological impact for local homes, schools, parks, businesses, and more." The organization partners with certified arborists to support the health, growth, and longevity of every tree it plants.

This path fits you if you control a property or site in the DC area and want trees planted there rather than simply volunteering on someone else's project.

Advocate

Casey Trees states it has championed policies supporting, protecting, and expanding Washington, DC's urban forest for over 20 years, and that these efforts have produced "some of the strongest tree protections among major cities." The organization adds that its work is not finished and frames advocacy as a shared effort: "Together, we can show that a greener DC is a healthier DC for all."

Choose this path if your interest is in policy and long-term canopy protection rather than planting or volunteering.

Volunteer

Volunteering appears as a distinct option under "Get Involved." The site does not detail specific volunteer roles or time commitments in the available material, so treat this as the entry point to explore rather than a defined program. It suits people who want to contribute time to tree planting, care, or events.

Join Our Team

"Join Our Team" is listed alongside the other involvement options, indicating employment or staff roles at Casey Trees. This is the path for people looking for paid work with the organization rather than volunteering.

Nominate a Space in DC for New Trees

Casey Trees invites the public to identify places in DC that could use more trees, shade, and greenery. The site explicitly names schools, houses of worship, apartment complexes, and businesses as examples of what can be nominated. The stated purpose is to "help shape a greener DC."

This is the lowest-barrier option: if you know a specific location in Washington, DC that lacks tree cover, you can submit it for consideration.

Why these options exist

Casey Trees frames its mission around measurable canopy goals. According to the site, Washington, DC's tree canopy covered just 35% of the city in 2001. Since then, the organization reports planting more than 60,000 trees and setting a goal of 40% canopy by 2032. Its programs are organized around five themes — Plant, Educate, Advocate, Conserve, and Care — and the involvement paths map onto that work.

Choosing your path

• You own or manage a site in DC → Plant Trees
• You care about policy and long-term protections → Advocate
• You want to give time, not money or property → Volunteer
• You want to work for Casey Trees → Join Our Team
• You know a spot in DC that needs trees → Nominate a Space

Each option is accessible from the "Get Involved" section of caseytrees.org, where you can follow the corresponding "Learn More" link for current details and any requirements.