Join Grand Tree University!

GTU – Grand Tree University 3rd class is scheduled. Participants attend an 8-hour training class – June 8th (classroom) and at date to be determined, 4 hours of field work. After training, the volunteers are grouped together, given sections of the City to inventory and perform the work on their own schedule. Volunteers are provided phone numbers to call with questions along with pictures for help in identification. The hardest part is identification of the trees and training assists in the endeavor. The Forest Service has designated the locations and volunteers receive maps with the inventory sites marked and street addresses. Training and support supplied by the Texas Forest Service Regional Foresters.

The trees are GIS mapped with phone app developed by the Texas Forest Service. The information collected is in drop down menus and easy to use. The information gathered in the field is sent to Susan for verification and then to the Forest Service. The result will be a 4% inventory of the city trees that extrapolated to a complete compile a street tree inventory. Main purpose of the survey is to determine where Emerald Ash Borer might strike and where to plant replacement trees. This a pilot program developed by the Forest Service and the plan is to mimic the training across the state with local Keep Texas Beautiful chapters.

Participants will receive – in addition to training from professionals – training manual, hardhat, safety vest and tape measure. If interested, contact Susan at shenson@gptx.org for more information on class details. Class size is limited.

Citizen Foresters can sharpen their skills and put their training to use inventorying street trees.