For nearly 50 years, members of the San Francisco Bay Area Urban Green Program have preserved and protected local habitat, particularly in vulnerable communities most susceptible to pollution and extreme weather.
To continue the program’s legacy, the SCA launched its 2024 Bay Area Urban Forestry Crew, which spent its recent season working alongside local park and city staff on various urban forestry projects to increase and diversify the number and types of trees throughout the region.
The crew worked with the Hayward Area Recreation and Parks District and the City of San Leandro’s Urban Forestry Division. In addition to planting trees, they provided trail work and structural pruning, removed invasive species and completed a highly detailed tree inventory.
“It may seem daunting at first, but it is incredibly rewarding professionally and personally. Some of the days were really tough and hard to get through, but you learn so much about yourself and about nature. This is work that really needs to be done,” said crew member Kelsey Marshall, 23, of Santa Maria. “I’m thankful for the experience. Having a team that is very knowledgeable with different people knowing different things you can learn from has been very helpful. There are thousands of things in nature that people need to take care of, and that could be you.”
SCA Bay Area Urban Forestry Crew Leader Alex Senauke clears overgrown vegetation. Photo Credit: James Martin.
While working toward becoming a certified arborist, the crew’s leader, Alex Senauke, 30, of Berkeley, joined the SCA to increase his skillset and gain experience leading teams.
“It’s been really great so far. I’ve really appreciated having the opportunity to instruct and guide young adults as they are coming up in the industry and teaching them some of the skills they’re going to need to continue this work in their careers,” Senauke said. “While working with the SCA, we worked on several street tree pruning projects. Having the experience of getting those newly planted trees trained for long, healthy lives always makes me feel that the work we’re doing is meaningful.”
Cities thrive when trees are part of their story. Trees transform urban spaces into vibrant, healthier, safer and more resilient communities. They cool our neighborhoods, clean the air, nurture biodiversity, and create spaces where people and wildlife can flourish together. A future with more trees uplifts everyone because every community deserves the protection, beauty and benefits they bring.
Crew member Erin Gamboa, 19, of Hayward, heard about the SCA while the president of their high school’s environmental club, where they worked in a nursery and taught others about California’s native species. Back with the SCA for a second season, they brought a depth of experience in chainsaw maintenance and a broad curiosity for native plants.
“My future goals have definitely changed. When I first joined the SCA, I had no idea what I wanted to do or how my future was going to go. I was so sure I was just going to be unemployed for a long time,” Gamboa said. “I joined the SCA and realized this is something I really enjoy doing. This is a future I want to have. I would love to be a park ranger, an arborist, or anything that has me working outside doing hard labor. I love doing it, and I am very proud of the work that I do.”
The crew also had the opportunity to travel to Joshua Tree National Park to assist National Parks Service staff with a revegetation project for ongoing wildfire recovery efforts. Despite unseasonably cold temperatures coupled with high winds, they pushed through to help plant Joshua Tree seeds in the desert, cultivating the next generation of the iconic California endemic species.
SCA Bay Area Urban Forestry Crew Member Kelsey Marshall plants a Joshua tree seed in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo Credit: James Martin.
“Through the SCA, I’ve taken a pruning class, sharpened my chainsaw skills and learned about the Geographic Information System (GIS) and a lot of other things that I would not have known about before the SCA that will take me far with this career,” said returning crew member Jerahmiah Wills, 28, of Oakland. “My advice to someone interested in this program is to be ready to learn, be outside and do some great things. While you’re doing it, you’ll be helping out the planet and also having fun. The SCA is a great organization to work for. I love it here and appreciate the opportunity.”
Each year, the Student Conservation Association fields more than 100 young people to plant and maintain trees, making communities healthier and more beautiful while increasing access to green spaces and careers. Through hands-on activities, program participants cultivate a love for nature and discover innovative ways to shape their local environment.
These workforce development opportunities build self-reliance, teamwork and practical urban forestry skills, including tree maintenance, chainsaw use, tree climbing, invasive species removal and education. Urban Forestry crews work closely with the SCA’s local partners to meet community needs, rebuilding tree canopies where they are wanted and needed most. Along the way, program participants receive training and certifications to accelerate their conservation careers.
SCA Bay Area Urban Forestry Crew Member Jerahmiah Wills removes a freshly cut branch. Photo Credit: James Martin.
One notable, long-term project for the Bay Area Urban Forestry Crew included managing acacia trees at a grove in Valley View Park in Castro Valley, California. Acacia trees are highly flammable, and their work helped reinforce the park and the surrounding area against wildfire risk. The site featured many downed and fallen trees, which the crew brushed and bucked using chainsaws, providing members with extensive practice exercising chainsaw safety skills.
“I’m incredibly proud of our inaugural Urban Forestry Team, whose efforts in southern Alameda County made a significant impact in their first year. By planting over 150 trees in San Leandro, addressing invasive vegetation, and gaining hands-on training, they’ve already shown incredible dedication,” said Kate Casale, the SCA’s Bay Area Urban Green City Director. “This work is so critical — not only for restoring our green spaces but for empowering youth to become environmental leaders who are shaping the future of our communities. Two team members are even planning to return as leaders in 2025, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where they go next.”
Are you committed to a future with more trees? During this crucially vulnerable period for our organization and our urban forestry program, your gift can make a significant difference.
