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
-
2 minute intro or 8 minute intro
-
Introductory webinar (37 minutes)
Then
Sign up here
And check out 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
-
Drop off door hangers (which we will mail you) for the landowners to alert them to the problem
-
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, 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.
See the Tree Rescuers Handbook for complete instructions
Trees smothered by Porcelain Berry
Our goal:
14000 rescues by 12/2023
Major roads
150 miles surveyed so far
10,185 trees at risk
Residential properties surveyed
-
1613 alerted
-
6998 trees at risk
Non-residential areas
-
7407 acres surveyed
-
52767 trees at risk
As of 9/14/2023 (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.
