Volunteer Forester

Our Volunteer Forester training program is a fun way to develop your tree planting and management skills—and meet fellow tree lovers!

We plant around 150 trees each planting season, and we depend 100% on volunteers to accomplish that goal. After you complete one Volunteer Forester session (fall or spring), you’re eligible to lead groups during planting events with your shiny new set of tree skills. You’ll also get an uber-fashionable Trees Knoxville T-shirt after you participate in your first volunteer event.

Teachers and students at any education level who live in Knox County receive a 50% discount on the session fee. Active AmeriCorps volunteers serving in Knox County may attend free of charge.

Courses:

  • Ecology and Geography of East TN

  • Tree Planting

  • Tree Response to Environmental Factors

  • Everything Tree Pruning

Winter Session, $50

This winter, join us as Volunteer Forester gets into the nitty-gritty of tree function and biology. Classes run for two hours on Wednesday evenings over a four-week period. The first class will be held January 31, 2024. Registration for the winter session is open now!

Fall Session, $50

The fall session of Volunteer Forester is a hands-on experiential course that focuses on the essentials of urban forestry, tree planting, and tree health. Classes run for three hours on Wednesday evenings over a four-week period. Registration for the next fall session opens in September 2024.

Courses:

  • Introduction to Trees Knoxville & Knoxville’s Urban Forest 

  • Tree Selection and Proper Tree Planting

  • Tree Health and Invasive Plant Species

  • The Science and Art of Pruning

Spring Session, $50

In spring, Volunteer Forester dives into the wonderful world of tree science and gives you a deeper background in tree function. Classes run for three hours on Wednesday evenings over a four-week period. Registration for the spring session IS NOW OPEN.

Courses:

  • Tree Biology and Measurement

  • Soil Science and Water Management

  • Tree Hazards, Tree Law, and Understanding Risk

  • Tree Identification

Stay informed.

If you subscribe to our monthly newsletter, you’ll be the first to know when registration opens for a new session of Volunteer Forester. Plus you’ll find out about tree walks, planting events, and much more!