| Philly Tree Coalition Responsive Grants Now Open
On July 11th, parts of Philadelphia experienced a “microburst” storm, causing unprecedented levels of damage in a period of less than 30 minutes. The storm caused fallen trees and limbs, damaged sidewalks and tree pits, and disrupted community spaces that residents rely on every day.
In response, the Philly Tree Coalition will award five (5) grants of $5,000 each to support tree-related recovery efforts in neighborhoods impacted by the storm, with a focus on West and South Philadelphia. The objective is to aid in the restoration and recovery of neighborhood blocks, community spaces, and greenspaces. |
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| | Responsive Grants Timeline:
Application Opens: July 20, 2026 Info Session: Friday, July 24 12-1pm. Application Closes: August 10, 2026 Award Notifications: August–September 2026 |
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| NOTE: The Responsive Grant is an additional funding opportunity, unrelated to our ongoing Tree Forward grant. Applicants are welcome to apply for both opportunities. |
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| There are a handful of considerations when caring for a newly planted tree, including proper aeration, protection from pollutants, pruning, and mulch. While all of these factors will contribute to the health of your new tree, none is more important than proper watering.
During the first two years of a tree’s life after planting, they use a great deal of energy trying to establish a strong root system and need weekly watering of 15-20 gallons. During times of heat/drought, you need to give your trees extra watering. This is best done through slow, deep watering, where you thoroughly soak the area around your tree(s) root zone so that all roots, both deep and shallow, are moist. A quarter-inch rain is not enough to soak the root system. |
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| Frequency of Watering: Apply 15-20 gallons at least once per week, especially during the 1st year after planting. Increase frequency to 2-3x per week in hottest/driest months the first year.
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| Our friends at PHS provide a wealth of resources on the subject of caring for newly planted trees: |
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Among the Trees with Tiny Trekkers
Tiny Trekkers is a free, nature-based early education program created by Global Thinking Initiatives Inc., a West Philadelphia non-profit founded by education advocate Elaine Wells. Rooted in a mission of environmental equity and community access, the initiative specifically aims to welcome Black and Hispanic families into Philadelphia’s public parks and natural spaces, areas where communities of color have historically been underrepresented in environmental education. To remove systemic barriers, the program is completely free for participants and provides donated transportation to bring families directly to local green spaces, such as the nature trails behind the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center.
Tailored for children aged 2 to 9 alongside their parents and caregivers, Tiny Trekkers emphasizes child-led, hands-on outdoor exploration. Rather than following rigid itineraries, the outings encourage unstructured play where kids can freely climb branches, splash in streams, explore meadows, kayak, and observe wildlife at their own pace. Alongside physical play, the program seamlessly weaves in early literacy support by incorporating interactive storytimes, phonetic singing during hikes, and nature-themed reading sessions. To further deepen this connection, participating families are gifted free children's books featuring culturally diverse characters enjoying outdoor adventures, bridging a love for reading with a lifelong appreciation for nature. |
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| | In the Tiny Trekkers program, trees serve as both the central backdrop and an interactive classroom for early childhood exploration, weaving physical play, sensory discovery, and literacy into the forest environment. Physical engagement with trees is encouraged through unstructured play, where children climb low-hanging branches, navigate root systems, and use tree clusters as imaginative play spaces for adventure scenarios. Ground-level interactions invite kids to get hands-on with tree ecosystems by examining bark textures, picking up fallen leaves, and exploring decaying logs and mulch beds to discover hidden insects and plant life.
Tree canopies also provide the ideal setting for the program’s signature early literacy and sensory activities. Facilitators host reading circles directly beneath the shade of forest trees, often choosing picture books that feature diverse characters exploring the outdoors to mirror the children's real-time experiences. As families walk along tree-lined park trails, such as those at Cobbs Creek, children participate in phonetic alphabet songs that keep them moving rhythmically through the woods. These hikes double as sensory observation walks and scavenger hunts, prompting young trekkers to listen to wind rustling through leaves, spot local birds perched in branches, and search for specific leaf shapes, grounding early education directly in the life of the forest.
Visit the Tiny Trekkers PHL Facebook page to learn more. |
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| | Did you know? The London Plane (pictured above in our banner image) is the ultimate urban survivor. It can thrive in polluted, sooty city air by shedding its bark to purge accumulated toxins. |
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| | | Mobile Nature Photography 101 July 30th, 6:30pm - Four Mills Nature Reserve Join Senior Naturalist Kristy Morley to discover and unlock the potential of the “best camera” that we all have in our pockets for nature photography. We’ll cover some basic principles of photographic composition and then dive into how to get the best photos out of whatever device you have. |
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| Moving Beyond Grants: Fundraising Rooted in Community Power August 25th, 3:00pm - Virtual Most nonprofits have revenue that largely comes from just a few sources: government funding, foundations, or a few major gifts. Join the first in a series of 6 webinars and learn how community-centric can boost your fundraising potential. |
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| Sassafras Harvest: Awbury Food Forest Workshop August 29th, 5:00pm - Awbury Arboretum Late summer is the perfect time to harvest sassafras leaves! Join Food Forest lead volunteer Jeannie Gerth for a guided forage walk through Awbury’s English Landscape in search of wild edibles, ending with a Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) leaf harvest. |
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| 2026 Partners in Community Forestry Conference November 18,19 - St. Louis, Missouri The Partners in Community Forestry Conference offers students a unique opportunity to connect with professionals from across the country, explore emerging issues and innovations in urban and community forestry, and gain valuable insight into potential career pathways. |
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| | Riverfront North Partnership: Events Calendar Seasonal Learn to fish, go on a family friendly hike, try yoga in the park…you’ll be amazed at all that Riverfront North Partnership has to offer. |
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Accepting Applications Through August 24th
PHMC, in collaboration with its Philly Tree Plan Partners, is seeking proposals from community-based organizations for projects that further the goals of the Philly Tree Plan. Selected applicants will carry out projects that support long-term sustainability of the urban forest in high-priority areas of Philadelphia. |
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| | | | Opportunity: PowerCorpsPHL is is now recruiting Philadelphia residents ages 18–30 for hands-on training in landscaping, stormwater management, urban forestry, and site maintenance. |
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| | | Tree ya later!
In our next edition of "Branching Out":
If you have something you’d like featured in an upcoming newsletter, you can SUBMIT A REQUEST HERE. |
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