From Students to Leaders: 29 Residents Prepare to Grow Providence’s Urban Forest!

On October 6, WRWC’s Nuestros Bosques (Our Forests) program wrapped up its Tree Planting Leadership Class, bringing together 29 community members for advanced training in urban forestry and neighborhood tree planting.

The class included 15 graduates of our Arboleros program, seven graduates of Campeones del Combate Climático, and seven tree leaders from the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program (PNPP).

Together, participants spent six weeks building the skills and confidence to organize tree plantings in their own communities.

Growing Community Leadership

Developed in partnership with PNPP, with support from members of Canopy Crew, the training explored everything that goes into a successful community tree planting.

Participants learned about tree diseases, selecting appropriate planting locations, designing planting plans, and caring for trees long after they’re planted.

But this program is about more than planting trees. It’s about giving residents the knowledge and tools to make decisions about the green spaces in their neighborhoods.

For our Campeones graduates, the training was a natural next step. During their 18-month environmental leadership program, participants identified trees as an important way to manage stormwater, reduce neighborhood heat, and improve community health.

Now they’re preparing to put that knowledge into action!

Looking Ahead to Spring

Over the winter, participants will begin identifying potential planting sites, connecting with neighbors and local businesses, and developing plans for community-led planting projects next spring.

This year’s Nuestros Bosques training programs engaged 47 resident leaders, demonstrating the growing interest in community forestry across Providence.

A huge thank-you to our dedicated participants, instructors, PNPP, Canopy Crew, and the entire Nuestros Bosques team for helping grow the next generation of neighborhood tree leaders.