SEATTLE – As buzz continues to build ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and the Arbor Day Foundation are partnering with FIFA to create lasting environmental impact in Seattle.
Together, they will host a community tree planting event at David Rodgers Park to increase the local tree canopy and deliver long-term environmental benefits to the surrounding area. The project will connect global excitement with local environmental action in Seattle and create a positive legacy that lasts long after the final whistle.
On Friday, April 24, the SCA will lead volunteers in planting trees to help address local environmental priorities, including community health and urban tree canopy, while also providing shared green spaces for residents to enjoy for years to come long after the tournament.
“We are thrilled about this exciting partnership and opportunity to create spaces where people and nature can flourish together. Trees transform urban spaces into vibrant, healthier, safer and more resilient communities,” said Lidia Soto-Harmon, SCA President and CEO. “Communities thrive when trees are part of their story. A future with more trees uplifts everyone because every community deserves the beauty and benefits they bring.”
The tree planting event in Seattle is part of a broader effort to connect large-scale reforestation with community-based projects in all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host Cities across North America. The Arbor Day Foundation and local partners will help rally volunteers, uplift neighborhoods, and build greener, healthier communities, ensuring the tournament’s energy lives on long after the final match.
The initiative is designed to deliver a positive environmental legacy by addressing specific regional needs across Canada, Mexico and the United States, ranging from disaster recovery and landscape restoration to enhancing biodiversity and watershed resilience.
“As excitement grows ahead of this summer’s tournament, it’s so inspiring to get to work with local communities and harness that momentum to create something meaningful and lasting,” said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees planted here in Seattle will benefit families, neighborhoods, and ecosystems long after the tournament has ended — and that’s a legacy worth celebrating.”
Trees offer vast benefits for the community at large. Thriving urban forests bolster human health, from encouraging physical activity to reducing respiratory illnesses stemming from air pollution. Urban trees filter air by removing pollutants, improving a city’s overall air quality. They also reduce runoff of sediment, pollutants, and organic matter into streams, improving our water quality. Trees have also been shown to reduce crime, lower stress levels, and develop community pride.
Through its Urban Green program, the SCA provides young people with paid green jobs, including single-day service projects, seasonal work and year-long internships or fellowships. In Seattle, SCA program participants plant trees, build trails and restore habitats while exploring green job opportunities, building leadership skills, and learning about the local environment through environmental education field trips, outdoor recreation and conservation projects.
EVENT DETAILS
WHAT: SCA Tree Planting Community & Employee Engagement Event
WHEN: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2026
WHERE: David Rodgers Park, 2800 1st Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
RSVP: Seattle Community Tree Planting Volunteer Form
About the Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces across the country. The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Founded in 1957, the SCA is committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and the communities we serve. For more, visit www.thesca.org.
About the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. It is a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united in the belief that trees bring people together to do great things. For more than 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has answered critical need by activating a vast network of individuals and organizations to plant trees with purpose and scale. To date, it has planted more than 500 million trees in forests and communities in more than 50 countries. And this is only the beginning. For more, visit www.arborday.org.
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