Would you like to learn more about the Arnold Arboretum’s trees? Would you enjoy connecting with the Arboretum ecologists and fellow citizen science volunteers? If so, we invite you to observe trees by participating in our new “Tree Spotters” program, led by Jehane Samaha and Suzanne Mrozak.

This citizen science program will open a window into the Arboretum’s phenology – the timing of natural events, such as the leafing out of trees in the spring and the turning of colors in the fall. Attend a free training session on Wednesday, July 8, from 5:30 – 9 at the Hunnewell Building at the Arboretum, 125 Arborway in Jamaica Plain. All experience levels welcome.

At the training session, you will learn about phenology, explore the tracking methods we will be using, and get hands-on experience with one of the ten species of trees we are tracking. Tree Spotters will participate in the program by visiting the Arboretum two or more times a month from May through mid-November for a 1 to 2 hour tree-spotting session. You can do this on your own, with friends or family, or with other volunteers. You will enter your observations into your Nature’s Notebook Observation Deck — allowing you to see patterns across the season! Registered participants will receive an e-mail before the training with further information.  Free, but registration requested at http://my.arboretum.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?EventID=1

If you cannot make this training but are still interested in the program, please contact us at TreeSpotters@fas.harvard.edu.  Photo by Gail Gililand.