University of Pittsburgh
IN-50: Innovation D

In 2022, the University of Pittsburgh began offering free Tree Tender Trainings to the Pitt community in partnership with local nonprofit organization, Tree Pittsburgh. This new opportunity demonstrates the University’s commitment to supporting trees on- and off-campus, while also creating an ongoing educational opportunity for students and employees to learn tree care techniques and help maintain and grow tree canopy in Pitt’s Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland and beyond.

Through December 2023, 130 Pitt community members have been certified as Tree Tenders through the Pitt Tree Tender offering; 78 Pitt community members became certified Tree Tenders in the first year alone. All Pitt Tree Tenders are eligible to volunteer their expertise to regional community plantings and tree maintenance projects.

Pitt’s Tree Tender training can be completed asynchronously online by any member of the Pitt community year-round. In-person training session are held twice a year. Attendees spend 6 hours learning about tree biology, tree care, and ways to volunteer. In-person trainings also take a tour of campus and learn how to identify different tree species.

Pitt also provides annual Campus Tree Tours so learners who completed online trainings can get hand-on experience with tree identification.

All Pitt Tree Tender sessions and tours are conducted by Tree Pittsburgh whose flagship Tree Tender program teaches individuals about the urban forest and trains them to become advocates for trees in neighborhoods. Tree Pittsburgh’s Tree Tender model is replicated across Pennsylvania and the U.S.

In April 2023, Pitt Tree Tenders assisted local nonprofit organization Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC) in planting 15 new street trees awarded by TreeVitalize Pittsburgh (an application based, community tree planting program).

1) Pitt Tree Tender webpage - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/tree-tender/
2) Pitt Community Impact Report, including the Pitt Tree Tender program on Page 13 - https://indd.adobe.com/view/1002cec5-e146-49fd-969b-13bc95f25362?startpage=13
3) Tree Pittsburgh’s Tree Tender program - https://www.treepittsburgh.org/tree-tenders-volunteer-program/
4) Tree Pittsburgh (Pitt’s local nonprofit tree partner) - https://www.treepittsburgh.org/
5) TreeVitalize Pittsburgh - https://waterlandlife.org/trees/treevitalize-pittsburgh/