Please click on the PDF packet below for commonly asked questions and guidelines for coordinators (including instructions for preparing the trees to hand out):
Click here for a downloadable version of the Parent FAQs
What kind of tree will we be getting?
The exact species you will be receiving will be known in early April.
Neighborhood Forest aims to provide native trees in all the regions we serve. Last year, we gave away 9 different species.We tend to provide species on a state-by-state basis and like to provide different species each year to provide variety and diversity of trees.
When will my tree be arriving and will it be shipped directly to my address?
We aim to have the trees arrive to your school, library, or youth group leader by April 20th.If you are ordering your free tree from your child’s school, your child should bring the tree home when it is distributed at their school aroundEarth Day (April 22).
If you are ordering your tree through your library, you will need to pick up your tree from your library when it arrives.You are responsible for contacting your library and arranging for the pick up of your tree around Earth Day.
While the library should be contacting you about pick up details, we encourage you to be proactive. If you are ordering your tree through a scout group, we encourage you to contact the scout leader about pick up details around Earth Day.
How do I care for my tree to ensure that it grows and thrives?
We encourage you to walk through this tree planting guide for best practices on caring for your tree.
What if I don’t have a yard or place to plant my tree?Can I plant my tree in a pot and leave it indoors?
Ideally, you want to plant your tree in the ground, outside, in a permanent location where you can watch and care for its growth.These trees are accustomed to being outside in the elements, so if you do keep it in a pot for a year or two, be sure to keep it outside.
We are looking for ways to provide something to grow for kids that do not have a yard or live in apartments.We hope to make these options available in the near future.
If you do not have a yard to plant your tree, we encourage you to plant your tree with a willing friend or family member who has a yard.
How does Neighborhood Forest fund all of these free trees?
All donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law and are not an exchange for any goods or services.
How can I offset my carbon footprint through Neighborhood Forest?
The average American consumes 7 trees per year in wood and paper products and emits 20 tons of CO2 annually. One tree will sequester 1 ton of CO2 in its lifetime (on average). So, to go carbon neutral via trees, a person has to plant 20 trees for every year they are on the planet. Factoring in estimated tree survival rates and annual wood and paper consumption, we recommend planting 50 trees per year per person to offset an individual’s tree and carbon footprint – thus the 50 trees x $5 = $250 / year or $25 / month membership cost calculation.
We have some very exciting new developments to share as we enter our 12th annual free tree giveaway.
I know it has been a tough and unfathomable 12 months for the entire world. A couple of years ago, even before all the craziness, we thought about calling it quits. Things were hard. Things were not moving as we expected. We wondered if our efforts were really making a difference.
Then, we started to get photos like this:
And this:
And, we were like, “we can’t give up now!”
I am so glad we didn’t give up because something wonderful and amazing is happening – right now.
In the past few weeks, we have experienced an incredible, unprecedented, and exhilarating surge of interest in our program, thanks to a small and unassuming library in Michigan!
In the first 11 years of our program, we grew from serving 4 schools in Minneapolis to 150 schools in 14 states – about 10-15 new schools per year. It was a fairly slow and steady growth over one decade.
In the past few weeks, we have nearly tripled – adding 250 new institutions – now serving over 400 organizations in 30 states!!
Here’s how it happened…
Three weeks ago, Tamarack District Library in Lakeview, Michigan got wind of our program and asked if they could also participate – they wanted to give trees to the kids they serve.
We had never had a request like this before and even though it was out of the ordinary, we thought, why not? What difference does it make whether we reach kids through schools or libraries? They signed up and became the first library in the nation to offer trees to kids via Neighborhood Forest. They were super excited about this and shared our program with a coop of libraries that they are a part of. Within a day or so, we had 5 libraries signed up in Michigan.
Then, they shared our program in a Library Programming group on Facebook and we essentially went viral – doubling the number of organizations we were serving – in just a few days!
Holy tree roots!
Below is the growing list of libraries, schools, and youth groups that have signed up since Tamarack changed the course of our destiny!
(By the way, we’ve given out Tamarack trees in the past, so this is just so fitting!)
It was all very unexpected, thrilling, and a bit overwhelming. This was the moment we had been waiting for all these years. The moment when people would be clamoring from all over to give trees to kids.
We now have the demand for trees we’ve been hoping for and we need to meet it with adequate fundraising. Obviously, this was a growth spurt we hadn’t really planned for.
Consider for a moment, that the average American family creates an annual carbon footprint that is equivalent to what 75 trees sequester in their lifetime. So, for about a dollar a day, Neighborhood Forest can offset a family’s carbon footprint by planting trees through the hands of children – now, tens of thousands of children!
Our sponsorship levels are as follows:
One Child $5 – 1 free tree for a child
Carbon Neutral Individual $75 – 1 year carbon neutrality for one person (15 free trees) Carbon Neutral Family $375 – 1 year carbon neutrality for your family (75 free trees)
Maple $950 – 1 school / library (200 free trees) Oak $2,500 – 3 schools / libraries (500 free trees) Sequoia $4,950 – 8 schools / libraries (1,000 free trees)
We can receive payment via Venmo or PayPal (or check) and we can provide a tax-deductible receipt if desired.
I planted this tree 28 years ago. We want to give every child this joy!
Would you or someone you know (an individual, business, or organization) be interested in supporting us this year, given the wonderful, unexpected surge in participation? Every little bit helps!
Feel free to spread the word!
Is your child’s tree still alive? Please share a current photo of it with your child(ren) on our Facebook page – we love collecting “then and nows” of the kids and their trees.
New schools, libraries, and youth groups that have joined Neighborhood Forest in the past three weeks!
Tamarack District Library, Lakeview, MI Diamond Path International School, Apple Valley Darby Creek, Hilliard, OH Lakeview Elementary, Lakeview MI Big Rapids Community Library, Big Rapids MI Bellaire Public Library, Bellaire MI Manistee County Library, Manistee, MI Leelanau Township Library, Northport MI JFK Elementary, Kingsport, TN Wildflower Early Learning Center, Savage MN Keystone Elementary, LaGrange, OH Bridge Prepatory Charter School, Staten Island, NY White Cloud Community Library, White Cloud, MI PS 380 John Wayne Elementary, Brooklyn, NY PS 35 Clove Valley, Staten Island, NY Zane North School, Collingswood NJ BSA Pack 2 Westerleigh (Scouts), Staten Island, NY Endeavor Library, Montello WI Darlington Library, Darlington, SC Beacon Falls Public Library, Beacon Falls CT Normandale Elementary School, Edina Keene Public Library, Keene New Hampshire Knox Public Library, Knox PA Philmont Public Library, Philmont, NY Ashby Free Public Library, Ashby MA Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Library, Fort Meyer, VA Vestal Public Library, Vestal NY Murrieta Public Library, Murrieta CA DR Evarts Library, Athens, NY Bellevue Public Library, Bellevue, ID Hundred Public Library, Hundred, WV Tom Green County Public Library, San Angelo TX Butler Area Public Library, Butler PA Veterans Memorial Library St. Cloud Branch, St. Cloud, FL Oakland City-Columbia Twp. Public Library, Oakland City, IN Liberty Lake Library, Liberty Lake, WA Star Valley Branch Library, Afton WY Tyler Public Library, Tyler TX Barnwell County Public Library, Barnwell SC Regency Park Branch Library, New Port Richey FL Mitchellville Public Library, Mitchellville IA Porter Memorial Library, Blandford MA Amery Area Public Library, Amery WI Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus IN Alvah N Belding Memorial Library, Belding MI Brisbane School District, Brisbane CA Elmont Memorial Public Library, Elmont NY Three Oaks Township Public Library, Three Oaks MI Kewaunee Grade School, Kewaunee WI Rapides Parish Library, Alexandria LA Carnegie Library of Homestead, Munhall PA Olive Free LIbrary Association, West Shokan NY Wickliffe Public Library, Wickliffe OH Lebo Branch Library, Lebo KS Kalamazoo Public Library, MI Mercer County Public Library, Harrodsburg KY New River Public Library, Wesley Chapel FL Pike County Public Libraries – Phelps Branch KY Clayton County Morrow Library, Morrow GA Buchanan Elementary School PTA, Murrieta CA Emily Brittain Elementary School, Butler PA Collingswood Middle School, Collingswood NJ Unicoi County Public Library, Erwin TN Tangier Smith Elementary, Mastic Beach NY Ida Public Library, Belvidere IL Leighton Township Library, Wayland MI Hoffman Trails Elementary, Hilliard OH Benson Memorial Library, Titusville PA Anderson-Lee Library, Silver Creek NY Malta Township Public Library, Malta IL Evans City Public Library, Evans City PA Chester Public Library, Chester CT W.G. Rhea Public Library, Paris TN Juniata County Library, Mifflintown PA Cromwell Belden Public Library Glen Ellyn Public Library, Glen Ellyn IL Novel Academy, Lake Elsinore CA Lima Public Library, Lima OH Southside Elementary, Shelbyville KY Cranberry Public Library, Cranberry Township PA Glen Lake Community Library, Empire MI Belen Public Library, Belen NM Brandon Free Public Library, Brandon VT Red Bank Public Library, Red Bank NJ Young Men’s Library Association, Ware MA Pike County Public Library, Pikeville KY Pike County Public Libraries, Phelps KY Cass District Library, Cassopolis MI Butler Catholic School, Butler PA Slippery Rock Community Library, Slippery Rock PA Lincoln County Library, Kemmerer WY Crowne Hill Elementary School, Temecula CA Prospect Community Library, Prospect PA Owensville Carnegie Public Library, Owensville IN Missoula Public Library, Missoula MT Ventress Memorial Library, Marshfield, MA Rock Falls Public Library District, Rock Falls IL Early Learning Connections, Butler PA Chippewa Falls Public Library, Chippewa Falls WI Amazing Grace Worship youth, Sidney KY Saegertown Area Library, Saegertown PA Union Public Library, Union NJ Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines Troop 661, Sartell MN Northland Public Library, Pittsburgh PA Stillwater County Library, Columbus MT Salem Public Library, Salem VA Albert Chapman Elementary School, Powell OH Elkhorn City Elementary, Elkhorn City KY Reed City Area District Library, Reed City MI Middletown Public Library, Middletown RI The Goddard School Beachwood, Beachwood OH CubScouts pack 614, Murrieta CA HIS Kids Christian School, Butler PA Western Elementary School, Centertown KY Verndale Area Christian Academy, Verndale MN Wood Family Home School, Afton WY Taunton Public Library, Taunton MA Plymouth Public Library, Plymouth MA McKinley Memorial Library, Niles OH Carver Memorial Library, Searsport ME Washington Elementary School, Dublin OH Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton NY Riverview Elementary/ Middle School, Grundy VA Central Middle School, Golden IL Slater Public Library, Slater IA Interstate 35 Elementary School, Truro IA Leelanau Montessori Public School Academy, Lake Leelanau MI Girl scout troop 71303 gsmh – Weir KS Carolina International School – Concord NC Lillian C. Schmitt Elementary – Columbus IN Bright Horizons at Tel Hai, Honey Brook PA Pasadena Public Library – Pasadena TX PS 44 Thomas C Brown, Staten Island NY La Barge Branch Library, La Barge WY Warrior Run Middle School – Turbotville PA Sutton County Public Library – Sonora TX Jasper County Public Library Rensselaer Branch, Rensselaer IN Little Dixie Regional Libraries – Moberly MO Geary Elementary Middle School – Left Hand WV Fairview Elementary – Richmond IN Lawrence Memorial Library, Bristol VT Christina’s Daycare, Dixon IL Barrett Elementary, Homestead PA BSA Troop 1907, Houston TX Lewis Cooper Jr. Memorial Library – Opelika AL Lincoln Public Library – Lincoln CA Pasco County Libraries – Hudson FL Land O’Lakes Library – Land O’Lakes FL Centennial Park Library – Holiday FL Columbia County Public Library – Lake City FL South Holiday Library – Holiday FL Navigator Academy of Leadership – Valrico FL Twin Falls Public Library – Twin Falls ID Zion Benton Public Library – Zion IL Girl Scouts Earth Day Event – Quincy IL Evergreen Park Public Library – Evergreen Park IL Peoria Public Library – Peoria IL Edwardsville Public Library – Edwardsville IL Seneca Public Library District – Seneca IL Jasper County Public Library – DeMotte IN South Whitley Community Public Library – South Whitely IN Ligonier Public Library – Ligonier IN Covington Public Library – Covington IN Brook Iroquois Washington Public Library – Brook IN Jasper County Public Library – Wheatfield IN Churdan Public Library – Churdan IA McCreary Public Library – Whitley City KY Weymouth Elementary School – Morrill ME Ames Elementary School – Searsmont ME Washington County Free Library – Hagerstown MD Berkshire Athenaeum – Pittsfield MA Community District Library – Coldwater MI Community District Library – Bancroft MI Community District Library – New Lothrop MI Community District Library – Byron MI Community District Library – Lennon MI Community District Library – Morrice MI Community District Library – Corunna MI Lapeer District Library – Lapeer MI Pearl River County Library System – Picayune MS The Paris Dulaney Memorial Library – Paris MO Paris Elementary – Paris MO Montgomery Co R-II Middle School – Montgomery City MO St. Francis Catholic School – Billings MT Kimball Public Library – Kimball NE Butler Memorial Library – Cambridge NE First Congregational UCC – Albuquerque NM Sidney Memorial Public Library – Sidney NY Cazenovia Public Library – Cazenovia NY Kingston Library – Kingston NY Kent Public Library – Kent Lakes NY Cub Scout Pack 123 – Jamestown NY Phoenicia Elementary School – Phoenicia NY Maxwell Memorial Library – Camillus NY Sharon Hill Daycare and Preschool – Cincinnatti OH North Canton Public Library – North Canton OH Girl Scout Troop #796 of Ohio’s Heartland – Dublin OH Scottish Corners Elementary – Dublin OH Franklin Public Library – Franklin PA Southmoreland Primary Center – Alverton PA Vandergrift Public Library – Vandergrift PA Hollidaysburg Area Public Library – Hollidaysburg PA Troop/Pack 217 – Chicora PA West Mifflin Middle School – West Mifflin PA Chippewa Branch Library – Beaver Falls PA Chicora Elementary School – Chicora PA West Warwick Public Library – West Warwick RI Johnsonville Public Library – Johnsonville SC Dell Rapids Carnegie Public Library – Dell Rapids SD Victoria Public Library – Victoria TX Bent Northrop Memorial Library – Fairfield VT Alburgh Public Library – Alburgh VT Readsboro Community Library – Readsboro VT Denmark Early Childhood Center – Denmark WI Grantsburg Public Library – Grantsburg WI Lakeview Community Library – Random Lake WI Alpine Branch Library – Alpine WY
We are celebrating 10 years of Neighborhood Forest this spring! What we are really celebrating is our Earth, the beautiful trees, our children, and the magic of planting and watching trees grow.
Now that we have been around a decade, we are starting to harvest and gather inspiring “then and now” photos of the kids with their trees (see below).
These photos and stories are bringing us joy and inspiration and giving us the much-needed soul fuel to keep going and growing.
If you have a “then and now” (or even now) photo, which you would like to share, please feel free to share directly on our Facebook page.
It would make our 10th anniversary that much more special.
Since 2010, Neighborhood Forest has reached over 100 schools, 60,000 families, and planted over 30,000 (mostly residential and urban) trees through the hands of children and parents across America and Canada.
When we see these photos of kids with their trees, we are inspired to reach even more schools and children. We would like to reach every child in North America and, eventually, the world.
We are looking for ideas, resources, sponsors, and partners to help us get there. We are looking to invest in our website, back-end technology, and logistics platform to help us scale our operation to reach as many children as possible.
We appreciate and welcome your support!
Investment to plant an urban tree through the hands of a child and their parents via Neighborhood Forest: $2-$10
Health, environmental, and economic benefits from one urban tree over its lifetime: $30,000-$70,000
Getting to plant and watch a tree grow from seedling to maturity: Priceless
Thank you for working with us all these years to make this an incredibly rewarding and heart-warming experience that will continue to pay dividends for decades to come.