A UCFS Learning Series Webinar!
Thank you to Bartlett Tree Experts for their support of the UCFS Learning Series
Every movement starts with a single spark—but real change happens when that spark ignites a collective force. Inspired by Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, this session will empower urban foresters to become change-makers and catalysts for transformation.
Urban forestry demands a diverse skill set. One day, you’re in the field caring for trees; the next, you’re collaborating with government officials, meeting with constituents, or tackling a mountain of spreadsheets. These competing responsibilities can make it difficult to fully engage with the community, sometimes causing projects to flounder or programs to stagnate. Yet, it’s often the voices of constituents and grassroots advocacy that can create real progress.
Your vision, voice and leadership can be the tipping point that shifts mindsets, mobilizes action, and strengthens our communities as well as our urban forestry programs. By integrating service leadership into your daily tasks, you can amplify the “power of many” and drive meaningful change. Active listening, creative education, and adaptive management are key tools in turning public support into momentum for change. Simply embracing your natural and learned leadership skills can be the missing ingredient that helps overcome challenges and advances urban forestry initiatives.
Whether you’re advocating for policy change, leading a volunteer program, or simply inspiring your neighbors, this session will equip you with the tools to turn ideas into action. Through real-world strategies and best practices, you’ll discover how to:
If you’re passionate about sustainability and want to make a real lasting difference, this session will equip you with the strategies, confidence, and leadership skills to step up, inspire, and create change. The future of urban forestry depends on leaders like you!
ISA CEUs applied for and pending.
Monday, November 17 from 1:00-4:00pm
To join us, add the tour with your registration!
Join the Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) and the City of Henderson Parks and Recreation for a half-day bus tour exploring how urban forestry practices are evolving to meet the challenges of a hotter, drier climate. This tour is designed for practitioners, planners, and policymakers interested in practical, replicable strategies for building climate-resilient urban landscapes with limited water resources.
Throughout the tour, we’ll explore how cities can proactively adapt to aridification by redesigning public spaces, rethinking irrigation systems, and collaborating across departments and with community partners. Expect a balance of big-picture strategy and actionable detail.
Featured Tour Stops and Highlights:
🌿 Turf Removal & Tree Replacement at Community Parks
See how traditional grass lawns are being replaced with water-smart landscapes by the City of Henderson. At one park site, learn how a communication challenge over tree removals evolved into a model of public engagement, resulting in more—and better—trees planted with long-term resilience in mind.
🦉 Bird Preserve and Partnership with Audubon Society
Explore a vibrant bird preserve developed through a partnership between the City of Henderson and the local Audubon Society. Discover how external collaborations can unlock funding (including grants) and expand habitat while boosting urban canopy goals.
🚧 Street Diet and Green Infrastructure
Visit a transformed urban street where pavement removal made way for tree planting pits and green infrastructure. This site demonstrates how every tree in Henderson is planted with a sustainable irrigation plan—and how all cities can innovate in the right-of-way.
💧 Irrigation Systems & Incentive Programs
Get practical insights on installing and maintaining efficient irrigation systems in challenging settings. Learn how internal and external partnerships (including with the Southern Nevada Water Authority) are creating incentives that drive real change toward water-wise tree planting and landscaping.
What You’ll Take Home:
Special Guests:
We’ll be joined on the tour by guest speakers from the, local Audubon Society, City of Henderson Sustainability Office and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, who will share insider perspectives on interagency collaboration and the mechanics of water incentive programs.
