photo by Kolby Kirk

TreePeople is a great local organization that aims to help improve the urban environment through environmentalism and sustainable living. They also provide a great way to get involved with local reforestation efforts, whether they’re in city parks or National Forests.

Over the past few years, the TreePeople have been hard at work with Forest Aid in the San Bernardino National Forest helping replant seedlings in areas burned by wildfires, and this season they’re turning their efforts toward the Angeles.

Replantings in the Station Fire Burn Area will begin later this season and I encourage you to attend if you can – however, right now the organization is offering free training for ‘Reforestation Supervisors’ – the people who will lead small groups of volunteers in the forest to make sure everything gets done properly.

They’re holding a training seminar from 9AM to 12:30PM this Saturday, January 14th where volunteers will learn the basics of tree-planting and how to keep a group on-task in the woods. After this training, volunteers will shadow a current supervisor and are usually asked to lead a certain number of re-plantings during the season.

Sign up for this event on the TreePeople web site and then meet at the Angeles National Forest Ranger Station at 12371 N. Little Tujunga Canyon Road in Lake View Terrace, CA 91342. Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy, stiff-soled shoes (boots are best), and dress for the weather in layers including a hat. If rain is forecast, bring rain gear. Please also bring a full water bottle and your own work/gardening gloves if you have them.

If you can’t make this weekend’s training and would still like to volunteer to be a Supervisor, they’re holding a second orientation on February 4th. Sign up to let them know you’re coming.

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by Casey Schreiner

Founder and Editor of Modern Hiker, Author of "Day Hiking Los Angeles." "Discovering Griffith Park," and "Cloud Spotting." Walking Meditator, Native Plant Enthusiast.