Planting season has arrived in Coastal Georgia! Between now and March 2025, Savannah Tree Foundation (STF) will plant trees across Chatham County in an effort to expand the region’s urban forest. This season, STF aims to plant 500 trees, 50% more than were planted last year. These trees will be planted on both public and private property. 

As part of its Chatham Canopy Corps program, STF has added three full-time, paid apprentices to its staff. The apprentices started in July and have spent the past four months learning the ins and outs of urban forestry. The apprentices will play a large role in private property plantings and in facilitating volunteer planting events, enabling the significant increase in trees.

The apprentices, Renly Dozier, Jocelyn Fitzpatrick, and Gwen Osenkowsky, come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from film to biology. They hail from California, Virginia, and right here in Coastal Georgia. 

When asked what each appreciated most about the program, Osenkowsky shared, “I’m committed to creating greener, healthier spaces where people and nature can thrive together.” Dozier seconded that he’s “excited to use these skills to foster community engagement and contribute to the growth and preservation of our inspiring urban forest canopy.” Fitzpatrick will graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Georgia Southern University in December and is excited to be gaining field experience through the Canopy Corps program. 

While the apprentices will help with much of the heavy lifting this planting season, STF still needs volunteers to help get trees in the ground. STF will host over a dozen community planting events. STF is kicking off the season with three back-to-back plantings before Thanksgiving. To sign up for an event and see the full events calendar, check out savannahtree.org. 

The Chatham Canopy Corps apprenticeship program is made possible by Georgia Forestry Commission and the United States Forestry Service, using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Upcoming events:

Saturday, November 9, 9am-12pm – Retha Mae McCoy Park (240 Riverview Rd, 31404)

Saturday, November 16, 1pm-4pm – Tricentennial Park (655 Louisville Rd, 31401)

Saturday, November 23, 9am-11am – Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club (510 E Charlton St, 31401)