Tree Walks with Tacoma Tree Foundation

In 2023, I began partnering with Tacoma Tree Foundation to offer community tree walks twice a year in my hometown. The walks coincide with the start and end of the growing season, when trees ramp up or slow down their water use. This process has visible symptoms that are easy to point out at these times of year, and harder during others.

I like to engage the community in science, which is my goal with these walks. At some point, I bring out some props to demonstrate how I measure and study tree transpiration. We walk in the spring and fall, and through wetlands and up streets, so people can see what a health vs. non-healthy water user looks like. I discuss the lack of normality in nature, and the risks associated with generalizing important ecological processes.

At the end of the walk, I always end up sticking around for an hour or so just talking with folks. It's inspiring to engage with allies who also consider the Once-ler to be their arch-rival. Don't get me wrong, I'm just as nerdy as the next scientist, but science isn't done until its communicated, and I LOVE to talk about science... and trees!

Skills: Project management, teaching, communication, lesson planning, inclusion, community engagement