Day of Service - Friends of Grand Rapids Parks

Volunteer with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks – Neighborwoods Tree Planting

Join fellow GRCC students for a Day of Service with Friends of Grand Rapids Parks at their annual Neighborwoods Tree Planting event!

Friends of Grand Rapids Parks engages the community in enhancing our city's parks, trees, and green spaces through volunteerism, urban forestry, and community partnerships. Neighborwoods is one of their largest annual tree planting events and brings volunteers together to help increase the tree canopy throughout Grand Rapids neighborhoods.

IMPORTANT: Additional Registration Required

This volunteer opportunity is part of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks' annual Neighborwoods Tree Planting event. In addition to registering through GRCC's Day of Service platform, all participants must also register through Friends of Grand Rapids Parks' volunteer registration system and complete their liability waiver.

Please complete your registration here:

https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/JE/ulymqfrlglolw7

When completing the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks registration form, please indicate that you are volunteering as part of GRCC's Day of Service in the "Group" sign-up question so that you can be placed with other GRCC volunteers.

Your registration is not complete until you have registered through both GRCC and Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.

What You'll Be Doing

Participants will:

• Plant trees in neighborhoods surrounding Garfield Park.
• Learn proper tree planting techniques from trained site leaders.
• Work alongside fellow GRCC students and community volunteers.
• Help improve Grand Rapids' urban tree canopy and create greener, healthier neighborhoods.
• Enjoy a community meal following the volunteer experience.

No previous tree planting experience is required! Training, tools, and supplies will be provided.

Participant Expectations

• Closed-toe shoes are required.
• Wear weather-appropriate clothing. Long pants are recommended.
• Bring a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and work gloves if you have them (extras will be provided).
• Volunteers should expect outdoor work that includes walking, bending, kneeling, digging, and working on grassy or uneven terrain.
• Volunteers are expected to attend the entire volunteer shift.
• A post-event reflection is required following participation.

Before You Attend

• Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. to allow time for check-in.
• Volunteers will receive a brief orientation from their site leader before beginning tree planting activities.
• A liability waiver is required before volunteering.
• No prior experience is necessary.

What's Provided

• Tree planting tools and supplies.
• Gloves (if needed).
• Water and snacks.
• A community meal following the event.
• Volunteer training and guidance from site leaders.

Location & Parking

• Garfield Park
• 2111 Madison Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
• Check in under the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks green volunteer tents near the gym parking lot.
• Please park on neighborhood streets surrounding Garfield Park to leave parking lot spaces available for those with mobility needs.

Weather Policy

This volunteer opportunity is held outdoors and will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

Honors Program Students: This volunteer opportunity fulfills three (3) of the four (4) volunteer hours required for the Fall semester. Students who participate will need to complete one (1) additional hour of approved volunteer service to meet the Honors Program requirement. 

Space is limited, so register early and help make Grand Rapids a greener place to live!