Trees connect community

A True Tree Champ

At elementary school yards across the Twin Cities metro area, there are many trees named after Norm. A frequent volunteer at Tree Trust’s Learning with Trees™ school-wide planting days, Norm Champ is a fan favorite amongst elementary school children. In fact, everyone loves Norm, a celebrated Tree Trust leader. Beginning his career at Tree Trust in 1977, Norm filled many roles including Executive Director. Norm retired in the winter of 2018 after 40 years of service, but he couldn’t stay away. By the fall of the same year, Norm was back as a Tree Trust volunteer.

True tree champ

MNSTAC Volunteer of the Year – Norm Champ

Norm is lauded for his quick wit, toothy grin, embroidered Tree Trust sweater vest, and fervent dedication to transforming lives and landscapes. It’s safe to say Norm really loves educating people about trees. This spring, the Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee (MNSTAC) honored Norm with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Tree Trust is grateful for Norm’s support at tree planting events. Volunteers are the backbone of our mission!

Volunteer Gratitude

With the help of dedicated volunteers like Norm, we hosted 8 tree distributions (3 in one day!), 11 planting events, and provided environmental education through our Learning with Trees™ at five elementary schools—all this spring. Working together, we helped green Minnesota!

Here are the amazing highlights of our 2024 spring volunteers:

  • 460 unique volunteers
  • 1,766 hours worked
  • 432 trees planted
  • 3,325 trees distributed

True tree champ

From community parks to city boulevards to private properties, Tree Trust’s volunteers planted trees with unwavering dedication. Their hard work ensures that these new trees will thrive into a vibrant, healthy canopy. Our tree distribution volunteers, undeterred by early mornings and often rainy weather, tirelessly unloaded and loaded trees into vehicles of all sizes. This challenging task was met with smiles and a can-do spirit. Thank you all!

Moving into the warmer summer months, we invite volunteers to help with tree care, including watering and weeding. Stay tuned to Tree Trust on social media for important information on tree care posted every Wednesday during the summer months. Please bookmark our volunteer calendar to stay in the know for upcoming summer events!