Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council is comprised of members from various backgrounds.  All are drawn to the organization because of a love of our local native trees and the role they play in our urban environment.  Members seek to educate the public on the value of the unique Cross Timbers ecosystem.

WHAT WE DO...

CTUFC has many programs in place to help promote urban forestry.  The organization is dynamic and creative and is continually developing new programs for the public.  Below are the programs we currently offer:

Citizen Forester
The Citizen Forester program presents a wonderful opportunity for individuals to become skilled at planting, pruning, and maintaining trees. It also provides interested persons with the chance to get involved locally with Cross Timbers cities and counties to help communities take care of their public trees.

Arbor Day
Each year, Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council awards a prize and a special Arbor Day celebration for an elementary school that wins the Arbor Day poster contest for the 17 county region.  Deadline for poster submission is December of every year.

Cross Timbers Traveling Exhibit
The exhibit briefly explains the natural and cultural history of the Cross Timbers region.  It covers wildlife, flora, human history and geology.  The exhibit is accompanied by free professionally-produced brochures that explain the Cross Timbers region in greater detail.  The information is based on the book "The Cast Iron Forest" by Richard Francaviglia.

The Great Tree Ring
CTUFC is collaborating with The Great Tree Ring to promote a sense of place & an appreciation for the natural world through the discovery of local trees & the stories that make them "great."  The Great Tree Ring is an alliance of individuals and organizations who care about trees and are devoted to the development of scientific and environmental literacy in our society. The Great Tree Ring sponsored its first annual story contest for students.  The focus of the contest is to identify and celebrate trees that are significant to an individual or community.  And what better serves a community than a school?  In cooperation with FWISD, we invite students to identify and celebrate the greatest tree on your campus.  Visit the Great Tree Ring website & read the winning essays written by Fort Worth ISD 3rd grade students: Great Trees, Great Kids, Great Stories.

Eco-Excursions
Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council offers several eco-excursions throughout the year.  We focus on outdoor activities such as biking, bird-watching, canoeing, hiking, backpacking and camping in the Cross Timbers region; usually staying in Texas.

Big Tree Tour
Take a road trip with CTUFC & Texas Forest Service as we explore the biggest trees in Texas.  A Texas Forest Service Guide will introduce you to state champion trees & you may also measure future champions.  Lodging, transportation & some meals are included in this tour. 

Habitat for Humanity Tree Planting
Each year, Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council partners with Habitat for Humanity to provide and plant trees in newly constructed Habitat homes in the Cross Timbers area.

Annual North Central Texas Urban Forestry Workshop
Join Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council for the 15th annual North Central Texas Urban Forestry Workshop in February 2009.  View the 2009 pdf brochure.  View the 2009 Bronze Leaf Awards presentations here!

Calendar Photo Contest
Each month CTUFC will take submissions of photos of champion and famous trees located in the Metroplex.  One photo will be selected each month for the next year’s CTUFC calendar.  Get out those digital cameras and have your champion and famous tree photo featured in the 2009 calendar!

Mayfest Tree Booth
CTUFC collaborates with local Fort Worth organizations to provide 2,000+ FREE trees to visitors at the annual Mayfest event.  Funding for the purchase of the trees is provided by BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas), Fort Worth Garden Club & Fort Worth Botanical Society.  City of Fort Worth Forestry Section works with CTUFC to organize the booth & recruit volunteers.  The tree seedlings provided are native to the Cross Timbers eco-region & are drought-tolerant.  If you received a free tree from Mayfest, please visit our Mayfest page to find out how to plant & care for your new tree.

Promote & Support Outdoor Activities & Events
Visit our Calendar of Events webpage to see what's going on in the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council 17-county region.

WHO'S WHO?

2009-2010 Executive Committee
President - Susan Henson
Vice President - Gareth Harrier
Secretary/Treasurer - Carrie Smith
Editor - Emily Galpin
Past President - Melinda Adams

Board of Directors
E.J. Cochrum (2010)
Laura Miller (2010)
Geoff Sherman (2010)

Jared Martin (2011)
Keith Martin (2011)

Pat Fairchild (2011) (Citizen Forester Representative)
Courtney Blevins (Texas Forest Service Representative - Non-voting)

Citizen Forester Coordinator
Melanie Migura

Webmaster
Michelle Villafranca

Standing Committees & Chairs
Fundraising - Melinda Adams
Newsletter - Emily Galpin
Awards - Courtney Blevins
Habitat for Humanity - Stevon Smith
Conference - Courtney Blevins
Membership - open
Scholarship - open

Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council members promote sound, sustainable urban forestry for the North Texas region.  Urban forestry is a holistic approach that looks not only at the trees in developed urban settings, but also the habitats in which trees have evolved.  Trees play an important role in our cities and in natural settings.