Recap: 2025 Tree Canopy Outreach & Activities

Every Day is Earth Day

It was a busy Earth Week and Arbor Day for the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission, the Dane County Tree Board, and the Tree Canopy Collaborative. Given the volume of events, we might need to start calling it “Earth Month (Plus a Few Weeks).”

From educational tabling to school nursery installations, volunteers and partners helped distribute over 600 trees to municipalities, nonprofits, Friends groups, and the community members. Some trees even made their way to 22 other counties and 12 states across the U.S. Here’s a look at where we’ve been:

April 22: Earth Day Extravaganza – Lussier Center

CARPC returned for a second year to this City of Madison event, hosted by Strategic Engagement Coordinator Susan Sandford. With the Dane County Tree Board, we handed out heritage oak trees, offered tree maintenance tips, and entertained with Lisa Johnson’s interactive tree ID quiz board—always a hit with kids.

*Kids test their knowledge with Lisa Johnson’s interactive tree ID quiz board*

April 25: Dane County Arbor Day – Indian Lake County Park

This immersive event for 300+ Middleton students, organized by Dane County Land & Water Resources, featured more than a dozen learning stations—from tree planting to boom lifts and lumber milling. Special thanks to Adam Alves, the Dane County Forester, for making this happen (though three hours of air horns tested even the most patient volunteers).

*The trucks with air horns were a huge hit with the kids—every single one had to try them!*

*Lisa Johnson’s interactive quiz boards—connect the right answers with metal probes, and a light bulb lets you know you’re correct!*

April 26: Bilingual Conservation Fair – El Día de la Tierra at Elver Park

Our first time tabling this joyful event, organized by Cristina Carvajal of EcoLatinos. Families enjoyed flying kites, raffles, music, dancing—and of course, free trees. The weather was perfect, and we gave away 25 heritage oaks throughout the day.

April 28: Tree Nursery Installation – Severson Learning Center, Cambridge

CARPC and the Dane County Tree Board partnered with the Severson Learning Center to establish a new tree nursery at their outdoor school. With strong support from Director Adam Gould—recipient of the Wisconsin DNR’s 2023 Wisconsin School Forest Award—the project came together smoothly. Six high schoolers mentored third and fourth grade students on how to properly plant heritage oak acorns and fill tree pots, making it a truly collaborative, hands-on learning experience. Jay Weiss of the Cambridge Tree Project also joined to share how the Village of Cambridge became the most tree-diverse municipality in Wisconsin.

Jay Weiss of the Cambridge Tree Project talks with students about the value of trees. Since 2006, he has tracked the growth and survival of over 1,000 trees—helping Cambridge grow from 35 to more than 190 tree species, the most of any municipality in Wisconsin.

*Kids visit the goats at the Severson Learning Center.*

*One of the Severson Learning Center’s new llamas greets visitors.*

May 2: Midwest Climate Collaborative – UW Memorial Union

This year’s Midwest Climate Collaborative conference—the third annual—was hosted in Madison, with CARPC serving as a co-chair. CARPC’s Lizy Levy, who also leads the Tree Canopy Collaborative, co-presented with the Metropolitan Council (Twin Cities) on innovative tools for analyzing and expanding tree canopy cover. CARPC Executive Director Jason Valerius moderated the final session of the conference. As a parting gift, participants received heritage oak saplings to take home and plant.

*Winston (Matt Noone’s son) helps distribute heritage oaks he’s helped grow over the past three years.*

*Caitlin Shanahan helps distribute trees while Matt and Winston take a break. Explore CARPC’s Heritage Oak Progeny web map to see the impact of our tree distribution program.*

May 3: Party for the Planet – Henry Vilas Zoo

Always a favorite! Kids climbed trees, made necklaces from tree cookies, and joined in Brian Wahl’s “Does It Come From Trees?” quiz show. Thanks to specially designed harnesses—and support from Madison College students and Dane County staff—even children with mobility challenges got the chance to experience tree climbing. CARPC, the Tree Canopy Collaborative, Dane County Tree Board, Dane County Land & Water Resources, and the Wisconsin DNR all hosted interactive tables throughout the event.

*For many kids, the best part of the day? Tree climbing!*

May 15: Tree Nursery Installation – La Follette High School

Science teacher Bradley Harrison and students from the AP Environmental Science class and Arboretum Club helped fill tree pots and plant oak sprouts. Operation Fresh Start (OFS) constructed the nursery—the 7th they’ve installed across the county. These nurseries provide space for 150 young trees and career exposure for youth.

*Operation Fresh Start—a nonprofit that helps young adults gain hands-on experience and explore careers—is a fantastic partner to CARPC and is making a big impact!*

*Winston helps arrange tree pots in the nursery—his favorite job during installations. He’s assisted with every workshop, helping teach more than 400 students how to grow trees.*

May 27: School Tree Planting – Schenk Elementary

Ten little leaf lindens, five Kentucky coffee trees, and one special bur oak (grown from an acorn collected on the school grounds) found a new home at Schenk Elementary School in Madison. Volunteers included parents, students, CARPC staff, and even the school crossing guard. Huge thanks to Jeremy Kane of Urban Tree Alliance, whose leadership made this project—and many others across the region—possible.

*Even some kindergarteners stopped by to help out during their recess break!*

June 11: Friends of Starkweather Creek Tree Planting

Together with CARPC, the Tree Board, and City of Madison Engineering, Friends of Starkweather Creek planted heritage oaks at Landsness Legacy Park. Tree cages, donated by the City of Madison, protect young trees from deer and rabbits. Special thanks to Tara Dary, Friends of Starkweather Creek board member, for leading the effort.

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