an adult and a child in park planting a tree sapling

Root for Trees offers public drop-in planting and stewardship volunteer opportunities with no registration required.

Join us as an individual, with a friend or in a small group to help grow and care for Edmonton’s urban forest!

Drop-in Program Types

person in park planting tree sapling

Regular Drop-in Planting 

Learn how to plant native trees and shrubs and help us identify and pull invasive plants with no registration required. We plant up to 200 stems! 

children with instructor in park

Stewardship Drop-in Planting 

Revisit previously planted sites and engage in stewardship activities, including invasive plant removal and planting shrub and wildflowers. Sessions occur on a bi-weekly basis starting in July. 

two persons in park planting tree saplings

Special Themed Drop-in Planting 

Celebrate our urban forest with snacks and refreshments at themed seasonal events in collaboration with local community groups and organizations. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and learn about our urban forest while tree planting. 

Drop-in Schedule

Drop-in events take place weekly on Thursdays from 5-7pm and Saturdays from noon-3pm starting in late May to mid-October at various locations. 

All training and planting equipment is provided. Volunteers should bring sturdy footwear and dress for the weather.

Drop-in Planting Sites

Each drop-in planting will have a preassigned location. Please see the Drop-in Planting Site Map for site directions and parking information.

Regular and Stewardship Drop-in Schedule

Sunwapta Storm Water Management Facility
DateTimeEvent type
Saturday May 23, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Thursday June 18, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday September 12, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday October 10, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Jackie Parker Park
DateTimeEvent type
Thursday June 4, 20265-7pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday June 6, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Thursday July 2, 20265-7pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday July 4, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday August 1, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday August 29, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday September 26, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Rundle Park
DateTimeEvent type
Thursday June 11, 20265:30-8:30pmBiodiversity Special Event. For more details, visit Special Events
Saturday June 13, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Thursday July 9, 20265-7pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Thursday August 6, 20265-7pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday August 8, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Thursday September 3, 20265-7pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday September 5, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Thursday October 1, 20265-7pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Saturday October 3, 2026Noon-3pmRegular Drop-in Planting
Terwillegar Dog Park
DateTimeEvent type
Thursday May 28, 20265-7pmDrop-in Planting
Thursday June 25, 20265-7pmDrop-in Planting
Thursday July 16, 20265-7pmStewardship Drop-in
Thursday July 23, 20265-7pmDrop-in Planting
Saturday July 25, 2026Noon-3pmDrop-in Planting
Thursday August 13, 20265-7pmStewardship Drop-in 
Thursday August 20, 20265-7pmDrop-in Planting
Thursday September 10, 20265-7pmStewardship Drop-in
Thursday September 17, 20265-7pmDrop-in Planting
Thursday October 8, 20265-7pmStewardship Drop-in
Thursday October 15, 20265-7pmDrop-in Planting

Special Themed Drop-in Schedule

Louise McKinney Park
DateTimeEvent
Saturday May 30, 2026Noon-3pmSpecial Themed Drop in featuring the Riverhawks team!
Saturday June 20, 2026Noon-3pmSpecial Themed Drop in featuring PRIDE month 
Saturday July 18, 2026Noon-3pmSpecial Themed Drop in featuring Climb YEG
Kinnaird Park
DateTimeEvent
Saturday June 27, 2026Noon-3pmRooting for Rat Creek
Dawson Park
DateTimeEvent
Saturday July 11, 2026Noon-3pmSpecial Themed Drop-in at Dawson Park
Hermitage Park
DateTimeDetails
Thursday July 30, 20265-7pmStewardship Drop-in 
Thursday September 24, 20265-7pmStewardship Drop-in
Silverberry
DateTimeEvent
Saturday August 15, 2026Noon-3pmFood Forest in Silverberry
Terwillegar Dog Park
DateTimeEvent
Saturday August 22, 2026Noon-3pmSpecial Themed Drop in featuring Edmonton and Area Land Trust
Saturday September 19, 2026Noon-3pmSpecial Themed Drop in featuring VIDEA Indigenous Youth
Saturday October 17, 2026Noon-3pmSpecial Themed Drop in featuring Edmonton and Area Land Trust

For more information about these events, please visit Root for Trees Special Events.

Prepare for your Drop-in Planting

What to expect:

  • Upon arrival, check in with Root for Trees staff on site and sign our volunteer sign-in form
  • Staff will provide a site orientation, including a safety talk and planting demonstration
  • You will then receive plant material, shovels and clean gloves
  • Feel free to drop in and leave anytime during the scheduled time slots
  • Staff will be onsite to answer questions and provide guidance on planting safely and pulling safely
  • Plant materials and equipment are available on a first-come-first-served basis

Training and Safety

All training, including a planting demonstration and safety talk, is provided on-site by Root for Trees Program Leaders.

Recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
All safety protocols communicated must be followed while volunteering.

Supplied by the volunteer:

  • Sturdy, closed-toe footwear such as runners (if proper footwear is not worn, volunteers will be unable to participate)
  • Hat, sunglasses and long pants are recommended

Supplied by Root for Trees:

  • Clean gloves
  • Shovels
  • Plant Material

Program Cancellation Policy

Root for Trees will plant rain or shine! However, in the event of severe weather, plantings may be shortened or cancelled for staff and public safety. Severe weather conditions that would necessitate cancellation include:

  • Thunderstorms or lightning
  • Temperature equal to or above 34°C (including the Humidex)
  • Wind, including gusts, of over 45 km/h
  • An air quality health index (AQHI) of 7 or above

The City of Edmonton retains the right to modify or cancel the planting in the case of inclement weather and public safety.

group of persons in park planting seedlings

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Group photo of Root for Trees volunteers in a plating location
Registered Group Tree Planting

Groups of 10 to 45 people can sign up for a tree planting facilitated by a Program Leader.

group of persons at a tree planting event
Root for Trees Special Events

Join us for tree planting and other special events throughout the season to celebrate Edmonton's urban forest and our communities.

Contact Us

311 Contact Centre

Phone  311 | Outside Edmonton and Video Relay Service (VRS): 780-442-5311 | TTY 711

Contact 311 Online