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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Partners and Sponsors
    • Contact Us
    • In the Press
  • Get Involved
    • Give
    • Volunteer Stewardship >
      • Master Tree Stewards
    • Memorial Grove
    • WTI Youth Education Programs >
      • School Tree Planting
      • Guest Speaking
      • Internships and After School Programs >
        • Young Adult Foresters
        • Claremont Green Team
    • ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
  • Resources
    • Worcester Forestry Division
    • Tree Guide
    • Benefits of Trees >
      • Health & Wellness
      • Economic Sense
      • Infrastructure
      • Community and Safety
      • Environment
    • How to Plant
    • Tree Care
    • Threats to Trees
    • Guide of Worcester's Arboretums
  • Donate

Worcester Community Arbor Day Celebration 2018

Celebrate Arbor Day at Institute Park

Many thanks to all who participated in our two Arbor Day celebrations this year! We Had wonderful weather, accomplished an incredible amount of work on Friday, and had a great time sharing our love of trees with everyone who came out on Saturday. We can't wait to do it again next year!

Worcester Arbor Day Ceremony and Volunteer Cleanup
Friday, April 27th, 10am-Noon

On Friday come help the City of Worcester and Worcester Tree Initiative celebrate on the State's official Arbor Day to kick off the tree planting season. Help us clean up Institute Park and plant a tree with State Representatives, City Councilors, and Staff.

Community Arbor Day Festival
Saturday, April 28th 10am-2pm

On Saturday come and celebrate Arbor Day with a community festival in Institute Park! You will be able to pot a seedling to take home, learn about the power of trees and nature, watch the power and finesse of a professional arborist, and much more.

Saturday All Day Festivity Features

Nature Exploration Stations
   - Tree-scovery: Explore the different parts of a tree to feel their different shapes and textures and what kind of fruits and seeds they produce.
   - Measurement Lab: Find out how you can measure a tree's height without actually climbing it, and how you can measure the trunk's diameter without cutting the tree down.
   - Building Forests: Learn about how we can make our cities into more forest like spaces by making spaces for plants to grow along our streets and between our buildings.
   - Trees at Work: Learn about all the wonderful things trees and plants are doing for us all the time just because they're alive!

Free Seedling Potting
   - Get your hands dirty and pot a seedling to take with you as a reminder of all you learned at the Arbor Day festival. Make sure to find it a good home where it can grow up to be big and healthy.

Ask an Arborist and Ask a Gardener Stations
   - Got some pressing questions about your trees or garden? Ask an expert! A panel of certified arborists and master gardeners will offer you advice on planting, pruning, and general care, and if you need professional help, they can tell you what you need to know to find a reputable company. No sales pitches, just honest expertise.
Rustic Log Hewing 
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with Greater Worcester Land Trust
   - 
Come and try your hand at squaring a post from a Black locust log with the Greater Worcester Land Trust! 
See various approaches to use hand tools to shape locally harvested logs into beams!
All ages are welcome and direct supervision will be offered! Learn more about Greater Worcester Land Trust at their website.

WaterWorks 
with the Massachusetts Audubon Society from Broad Meadow Brook
   - Watch the water cycle and the way water interacts with land and the influence people have on our rivers and lakes at the watershed discovery table. Learn more about Mass Audubon and Broad Meadow Brook at their website.

The Tree Bus 
by The Scattered Seeds Foundation 
   - This is a hands on program with displays about how trees grow, dating a tree, petrified wood and much, much more. You can check out pictures of the bus on the the Scattered Seed Foundation's website.
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And More in the Works!

Saturday Scheduled Festivity Features

10:30am
Tree Diversity and Impact Walk
Come take an up close look at the diverse palette of trees in Institute Park and learn just how much trees do for us. How many gallons of rain water can a mature maple tree absorb in a year? How many pounds of carbon can a flowering cherry tree take out of the atmosphere? And what would a big oak tree do for your heating and cooling bills? When you put it all together the dollars really add up!
11:30am
​Professional/Athlete:
Arboriculture  Demonstration
Learn from ISA Certified Arborist Tim Connolly about what an arborist does, the tools of the trade, and climbing techniques. Then, watch as he ascends the tree and uses his climbing line to agilely move throughout the canopy by swinging, crawling, and limb walking. This demonstration will show you a profession where you can make the most of your energy, bravery, and athleticism.
12:30pm
Green Side Up
and Other Useful Tips to Keep Trees Alive
How do you plant a tree? You just put it in the hole green side up, right? You might be surprised just how much you don't know about this seemingly simple task. When we get it right, our trees will be thriving for decades to come. Get it wrong and the tree could be dead by the end of the year. Watch a professional unpack a tree's root ball, observe the right depth and width of the planting hole, and learn what a Root Crown is (it doesn't go on your head!) Plus learn about some very important follow up tasks you should do and some things it's absolutely essential you do not do if you're going to keep your trees alive.
1:00pm
Arbor Day WalkFit
Spring Promenade from Park to Museum
Join the pedestrian parade and discover Worcester's past, present, and future. Perambulate and hobnob with fellow citizens, hear historic tales from local experts, get up close and personal with nature, and experience art as never before.

Meet at the corner of Salisbury and Park promptly at 1pm. Stroll along with the group and feel free to drop in or drop out as we proceed. Intended for all ages and all abilities; may be moderately challenging but don't be deterred! Estimated 2 hours.

Amenities

Food
Bring room for a late breakfast or lunch. Food will be provided by Moe's food truck at the corner of Rumford Ave and Park Ave. Or, consider bringing a picnic blanket and packing a lunch, you'll want to stick around so you don't miss anything!
Parking
In addition to street parking on Salisbury Street the First Baptist Church of Worcester is generously allowing us to use their parking lot on Saturday for the Community Arbor Day Festival. Parking attendants in bright yellow vests will help you find a spot in the spaces outlined in green.
Restrooms
Portable restrooms will be located on Rumford Ave near the Food truck and the Tree Bus.
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Event Partners & Sponsors

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Thank You to Our Partners & Sponsors

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You can see the whole list on our Partners and Sponsors page. 
Worcester Tree Initiative. An Independent Program of Tower Hill Botanic Garden.
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