Community Forester Training

Each year, Friends of the Urban Forest offers a series of 12 classes taught by staff and premier guest speakers. Whether you are an experienced FUF volunteer, or are new to FUF’s programs, this is an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and experience with trees. Become a Community Forester, and become a leader in the FUF community!

A Citizen Forester (now called Community Forester) participates in a Tree Tour of the Duboce Triangle neighborhood, February 2011.

Our next Community Forester Training will begin in January, 2013.

The Training will happen on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, January 24-March 9, with a week off for Valentine’s and President’s days.

What is a Community Forester?

Simply put, Community Foresters are FUF’s elite “Tree Corps.” With their experience in the field, and premier training in many areas of San Francisco Urban Forestry, Community Foresters are leaders in the FUF volunteer community.

How do I become a Community Forester?

Sign up for our upcoming Community Forester training! Each year the training is taught by premier guest speakers and our own FUF staff members, and consists of six Thursday evening lectures, each followed by a Saturday morning field day.

How much will it cost?

The cost of the entire training is $250.  FUF will waive this fee for any volunteer who commits to spending 40 hours (about a half-day per month for a year) volunteering in a leadership position with FUF- we want you to put your new skills to work!

Otherwise, if you just want to take an individual class (Thursday/ Saturday combo) the cost is $45.

How do I register?

Contact Blake Watkins by phone at 415-268-0774 or by email with our contact form.

Class Descriptions

Friends of the Urban Forest planted this Red Flowering Gum (Corymbia ficifolia) in Hayes Valley in 1981, the year we began. It’s still thriving today. Photo by Lisa Guide.

Urban Forestry in San Francisco and Community Coordination

Lecture:Introduction to Friends of the Urban Forest, including topics in community organizing, the importance of trees in our urban environment, developing leadership skills and working with volunteer groups.

Lab: Starting at the ocean and ending at the bay, the instructor will discuss the natural and cultural history of San Francisco, with a focus on urban forestry and tree species selection.

San Francisco Street Tree ID

Lecture: Using pictures and live samples, the instructor will discuss the top 25 trees planted in San Francisco. We will look at how to identify trees using leaves, flowers, bark and form.

Lab: On this Tree ID walk, we will get a close look at the trees covered in the lecture. Be sure to bring good walking shoes!

Principles of Planting

Lecture: Introduction to the process of choosing the right tree for the right place, nursery stock selection, planting in urban settings, and how to water and establish new trees.

Lab: We will head out into the city to get some hands-on practice planting trees. We will meet at the site of one of FUF’s Neighborhood Tree Plantings, spend some time planting trees, and return in time to enjoy the post-planting festivities!

Basic Tree Biology & Intro to Pruning

Lecture: Introduction to the basics of tree biology and pruning, with a focus on young tree training and root pruning. We will discuss reasons for pruning, how to make a proper cut, how to decide what to prune, and how to properly use pruning tools.

Lab: We will put your new pruning skills to work in the field, caring for trees and practicing group leadership skills.

Tree Diseases & Pest Management

Lecture: Identifying insect pests and diseases is an important part of urban tree care. This class will cover the problems you are most likely to encounter in San Francsico, ways to identify the pest or disease, and steps you can take to remedy a sick tree.

Lab: For our field day, we will visit the FUF tree yard at the Alice Griffith Garden in the Bayview neighborhood, getting hands-on experience in identifying pest and disease issues, discussing treatment options, treating plant material where possible, and making recommendations to the garden’s caretaker.

Advanced Pruning Techniques

Lecture: We will talk about species-specific pruning techniques, and take a step beyond the basics. This will be a chance to learn new techniques and approaches to pruning, and to broaden your skill set.

Lab: For our final field day, we will help lead a tree care day. This will be a chance to put all of your new tree care skills to the test, as we work in small groups caring for trees in the neighborhood.