Young Urban Forest Leaders

As a recent forest conservation graduate, I was looking for new ways to get involved in the urban forest. Luckily, I found the Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) program just in time to meet the application deadline! Let me tell you a bit about my experience.

For Lucy Szczesniak, her interest in the natural environment and urban forest set off a chain of rewarding professional, personal and spiritual developments in her life. Becoming a Young Urban Forest Leader (YUFL) gave her clarity in the next chapter of her life and connected her to a new network. Hoping to inspire others to join the YUFL program, she shares her experience and guiding principles.

Willow couldn’t have predicted the impact that participating in the Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) program would have on her life. Driven by her desire to learn more about the urban forest, she found herself developing skills through the program and emerged as a leader in her community. Now, she reflects on her experience and the opportunities ahead.

Throughout 2020, our Community Programs team was tasked with adapting many of our programs and events to follow ever-evolving public health guidelines. Despite the many changes, we were able to continue to engage volunteers and community members with fun and informative programs aimed at protecting and enhancing the urban forest. Here are some of the year’s accomplishments.