Tree Rescuers Volunteer Education Program
Join our Northern Virginia program of community volunteers
to help save our native trees from invasive non-native vines!
Please note: This is a public education program to inspire others to control invasive vines. To volunteer to do the actual vine removal, please see this page.
Interested? Watch a video
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2 minute intro or 8 minute intro
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Introductory webinar (37 minutes)
Then
Sign up here
And read the handbook
Does it make you sad to see trees smothered by vines?
You can do something about it!
This is a very easy volunteer opportunity. All you need to do (after watching the video and reading the instructions) is
-
Walk around counting trees at risk from invasive vines
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Drop off door hangers (which we will mail you) for the landowners to alert them to the problem
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Report back to us
Note: you do not need to be able to ID vines to do this. You will easily recognize English Ivy, and if a vine is twisted round and round a tree (as opposed to just climbing up it), it is almost certainly an invasive species, as our natives don't behave like that. If its leaves are blanketing a tree, it could be invasive or native, but in a residential neighborhood it is likely to be invasive. You can just drop off the door hanger and let the homeowner figure it out. (On the other hand, if you are actually cutting vines, you'll need to learn to identify them.)
See the Tree Rescuers Handbook for complete instructions
Trees smothered by Porcelain Berry
Our community's goal:
20000 rescues by 12/2025
Major roads
222 miles surveyed so far
133,320 trees at risk
Residential properties surveyed
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3180 alerted
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15355 trees at risk
Non-residential areas
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10239 acres surveyed
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68499 trees at risk
As of 5/26/2025 (and since Sept. 2021)
What if you want to also help clip invasive vines?
There are many organizations that need volunteers to do this. These groups are well set up to train you and ensure safety. Events take place year round and always need more help. In many situations you may work independently on your own schedule as well once you are on-boarded. See the list here.
