Public Awareness/Education

The organization provides conservation services in the form of using technology to re-create the functions of a forest in an urban setting, environmental education programs, tree-planting projects in cooperation with community groups, and the maintenance of Coldwater Canyon Park. The services include information, education, and support services to motivate people to take an active role in caring for and improving the environment. The agency offers a number of services and programs for the general public as well as for members. There are no geographic restrictions.

The technology to re-create the healthy functions of a forest in the urban setting include permeable paving, French drains, swales, rain barrels, cisterns and other relatively simple forest mimicking innovations. Treepeople assist communities to put this technology in action.

The Environmental Education Program called "The Magical City Forest" is designed for elementary school students. The program provides field trips and eco-tours and is designed to encourage young people to see and feel their relationship to the natural environment. The program includes discussion of the local ecosystem, how to spot and clean up pollution sources, how to avoid and prevent future pollution problems.

Staff and volunteers also provide tools and technical advice for community groups and individuals who need assistance with local tree planting projects through the Citizen Forester Training program. The agency trains the Citizen Foresters to plant trees correctly, and to maintain them. An experienced supervisor accompanies the community group members to the work site to provide additional technical assistance; tools and equipment may be loaned to the cooperating organizations. Interested community groups may contact the director of the Citizen Forester Training Program for additional information.

The agency maintains and operates Coldwater Canyon Park which is leased from the City of Los Angeles. The park is open daily to the public. The agency also provides workshops to the public. The organization's tree nursery is also located at the park. Tree seedlings grown in the nursery are utilized in local tree planting projects. Volunteers are always actively recruited, trained, and utilized and no experience is necessary. Nursery volunteer activities include planting, watering and transplanting.

As a gift or in memory of a loved one, individuals may make a donation and dedicate a tree or a grove of trees. Donations are tax deductible and the funds are used to support reforestation projects. A card or certificate is mailed to the recipient acknowledging the donation.

People are not required to become members of TreePeople to participate in any of the activities and there are no geographic restrictions. Dues-paying members receive four free tree seedlings per year, the quarterly newsletter, free admittance to the workshops and other special events.