Did you know that a well-managed urban forest saves more water than it consumes? Trees capture and slow rainfall while their roots filter water and help with groundwater recharge. Trees also mitigate flooding by reducing stormwater runoff, which can decrease stormwater management costs and prevent the flow of polluted water into creeks, lakes, rivers, and bays.

To maximize the water-conserving benefits of your trees and ensure they thrive during warmer summer months, check out our tips and guide to save water and trees!

Canopy’s 2024 Tree Awards and Volunteer Party. Photo by Ashok Srinivasan.

Saturday, September 20, 2025

3:00 – 5:00 PM

Bloomhouse, 2555 Pulgas Ave, East Palo Alto

On September 20th, please join Canopy in celebrating our Champions of Hope at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Party and Tree Awards! At this free community celebration, we will honor our 2025 Canopy Tree Awardees and the volunteers, partners, and supporters who dig in to help plant hope for tomorrow. Hosted at Bloomhouse in East Palo Alto, festivities will include indoor/outdoor mingling, refreshments from local businesses, interactive displays to honor our volunteers, and a brief program toasting our 2025 Tree Awardees. Save the date and stay tuned for the reveal of our awardees!

At Canopy, we know that trees are more than just shade and greenery. They are symbols of justice, of healing, and of the hope that anchors us in uncertain times. And every tree we plant, every young leader we mentor, every community we bring together, is a declaration that change is not only possible—it’s already growing.

June is the final month of Canopy’s spring fundraising campaign, and we’re close to reaching our goal. But close isn’t enough, not when our communities face mounting challenges from climate change, growing inequity, and national headwinds affecting local nonprofits and those who rely on them.

Will you make a gift today to plant hope for tomorrow? Your gift will plant trees where they are needed the most, educate youth, and nurture community-led efforts to heal and restore our shared environment.

Looking for a way to enjoy trees and plant hope in your community? Join us at an upcoming Canopy event!

Park Cleanup & Fruit Tree Raffle

June 26, July 12, and July 24, 2025

3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Various locations in East Palo Alto

As part of the Youth Community Service park cleanup events, Canopy will be raffling off five fruit trees to volunteers. Join us on June 26 at Joel Davis Park, July 12 at Bridge Pop Park, and July 24 at Bell Street Park for a chance to win a free fruit tree and steward our local parks!

Tree Walk: Edible Urban Forest

Saturday, July 12, 2025

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Palo Alto

Explore Palo Alto's delicious and delectable flowers, leaves and fruits at our annual Edible Urban Forest Tree Walk! On this one-way walk, an expert arborist and other professionals will guide you through an exploration of the city's edible trees and plants. Along the way, enjoy tree tasting and learn about the surprising flavors growing all around us.

Young Tree Care Survey Trainings

July 19 and August 2, 2025

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Palo Alto

Interested in expanding your tree knowledge and protecting the urban canopy? Participate in our annual Young Tree Care Survey (YTCS)! Every summer, YTCS volunteers and Canopy staff survey young trees in Palo Alto to assess if trees are getting the proper care they need and to note any damage. Sign-up to participate in YTCS or contact evany@canopy.org with questions. 

Canopy is hiring three full-time Climate Action Fellows for the 2025-26 service year through the California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) Program.

Canopyʼs Climate Action Fellows will play a key role in expanding community-based urban greening efforts in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and North Fair Oaks. Through tree planting, tree care, volunteer engagement, and educational outreach, fellows will help close the “green gap” in historically under-canopied communities that have been impacted by systemic environmental injustices. 

CCAC Fellows earn up to $45,000 in living stipends and money for school upon successful completion of 1,700 hours of service between September 15, 2025, and August 14, 2026. 

Ready to become a climate champion and cultivate change in our Midpeninsula communities? Read our CCAC fellowship description and apply online!

In the latest episode of Canopy Roots, our Teen Urban Foresters share how time in nature and walking in green space can benefit your physical and mental health. You can listen to the episode on Spotify, Amazon Music, or iHeartRadio.

May 24, 2025 | Mountain View - 10 trees were added to Rengstorff Park with the help of Planting Leaders, Community Forestry School graduates and volunteers from Sewa, YMSL Alpine, and the local community.

May 27, 2025 | Palo Alto - Volunteers from Azbil North America Inc. joined Canopy staff to plant 3 trees in the Greer Park neighborhood.

May 30, 2025 | Mountain View - Volunteers from Accenture joined hands with Canopy staff and Planting Leaders to plant 6 street trees in Mountain View.

May 31, 2025 | Mountain View - More than 80 people joined Canopy and Mountain View Whisman School District to plant 15 trees at Benjamin Bubb Elementary School. Thank you to MVWSD and the City of Mountain View for championing a vision of greener, more resilient schoolyards. 

June 4, 2025 | East Palo Alto - Volunteers from Alexza Pharmaceuticals joined Canopy staff to care for 10 trees and do habitat restoration work at the San Francisquito Creek Trail. Volunteers remediated soil through weeding and mulching, restaked trees, removed seedling tubes, and did structural pruning.

June 7, 2025 | Palo Alto - Canopy Pruning Leaders, Community Forestry School graduates, and staff cared for 2 trees at Terman Park and 4 trees at Fletcher Middle School during a hands-on tree care workshop.

June 14, 2025 | Palo Alto - We started our 2025 Young Tree Care Survey off strong with 21 volunteers surveying 95 young trees at our annual kickoff training. If you weren’t able to attend, sign up for a future YTCS training!

New community garden plants roots in East Palo Alto

By Lisa Moreno

Read about the opening ceremony of the Fresh Approach Collective Roots Community Garden at the six-acre lot on Demeter Street in East Palo Alto. With the support of the community and local partners, Fresh Approach hopes to transform this lot into a vibrant community hub. Thank you to Fresh Approach for including Canopy in this celebration and working to bring collaborative spaces and accessible fresh food to the community!

The County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability and Resilience is developing a county-wide Urban Forest Master Plan with the Santa Clara Valley Urban Forestry Alliance (SCVUFA) to create vibrant, healthy, and resilient landscapes that support ecological health and enhance the quality of life for all residents. To gather community input on urban forestry needs, we invite Santa Clara County residents to participate in a county-wide survey that will help guide urban greening, identify areas needing more trees, and support community health and biodiversity.

Christina and Ray Shryver

in memory of Brooke Shryver

Atkinson Foundation

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Justice Outside

Canopy's mission is to collaborate with communities to grow and sustain equitable urban forests for all.

We envision connected communities thriving within a vibrant urban forest.