Canopy Bloomington: Growing a Volunteer Community
This blog was created by Decklan Barnabas in conjunction with the Content Marketing Practicum at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
Are you a tree lover looking for opportunities to give back to your community and restore Bloomington's natural beauty? We've got just the organization for you, where you get to build connections with new people and give back to the Bloomington area. CanopyBloomington, one of the many amazing nonprofits using the CBVN website, is building community and restoring biodiversity across the city.
Canopy Bloomington was founded in 2021, with one major plan in mind, to build back Bloomington's urban forest. Canopy mainly plants trees on private property, partnering with neighborhoods and other organizations to give them the knowledge and expertise they need to plant and care for the new and existing trees in their area.
What is the Urban Forest?
Ava Hartman, Executive Director of Canopy, explained that before Canopy's founding, the city of Bloomington had lost up to 56% of its natural tree canopy, a huge hit to the environmental health and biodiversity of the city. The urban forest defines all of the trees and large vegetation throughout a city or town. This network of nature provides shade for humans and animals, reduces flooding and erosion risks, and improves overall air quality for the entire community. Entering its 5th year of operation, Canopy has expanded its program significantly, "branching out" to include educational experiences like Tree Walks, a Youth Tree Tender program to offer development opportunities to high school students, and even a book club!
It Takes a Volunteer Community
Canopy is a volunteer-driven organization. Originally relying on volunteers from around town, their partnership with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network has allowed them to begin larger tree planting projects and expand their reach throughout the community. Volunteers help do everything from actual tree plantings, photography at events, and even serving on the board of Canopy. The impact of Canopy's volunteers is truly felt throughout the entire organization and community. The volunteers' energy, hard work, and commitment to making a difference has helped Canopy grow and start its 5th year stronger than ever!
Canopy's two main goals are (1) to organize as many tree plantings as they can, (2) and to have fun while doing it! The volunteer engagement and fun factor are huge reasons why Canopy has been able to succeed in their mission of restoring Bloomington's urban forest. With volunteer groups spanning from high school and professional organizations, to girl scout troops, everyone truly has something to gain.
Want to Get Involved?
Canopy sources their trees from a few different nurseries around Southern Indiana, and all nurseries are extensively researched to make sure their trees are healthy, strong, and perfect for the Bloomington community. The trees planted throughout the year also come at no cost to the home owners or wider community. With planting seasons taking place in the spring and fall, now is the perfect time to get in touch and sign up to help out. And, if you've never volunteered before or find it difficult to get started, then Ava has a few words of encouragement for you:
"All you have to do is make it there, signing up and showing up is 90% of the work done, and once you get checked in and start bonding with your team, it's so easy to see the impact you're making and want to come back."
Find out more about local volunteering opportunities with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, and see how you can find your sense of belonging within our community here
