Volunteer Tree Planting

Plant trees at the Schuylkill Center! We’re looking for volunteers to help us restore and improve the landscape in the forest at the Schuylkill Center. In 2026 we worked on the Port Royal Gully project, a large engineering and landscape project that helped with flooding and water pollution, protecting the important first order springs at the Center. This project is nearly complete, but to cross the final finish line, we need to plant hundreds of trees to help the natural landscape and create a thriving home for wildlife. Tree Planting Details No experience necessary to volunteer. Training will be provided by our expert staff during the workday. We recommend wearing long pants, sturdy boots or shoes. We will have a selection of gloves if needed but volunteers are welcome to bring their own if they have a favorite pair. We will provide tools for our volunteers. Please bring your own water bottle. Lunch and snacks provided. This tree planting will be rain or shine. We will contact registered volunteers in the event of severe weather. Please register to let us know you’re coming. Groups are welcome to register, but each individual should sign up independently. Sign Up About this Project The Port Royal Gully project is a multifaceted engineering and restoration project designed to mitigate the effects of flooding and soil erosion from Port Royal Ave using techniques that will create a resilient landscape at the Schuylkill Center. As 365 acres of wilderness in Philadelphia, the Schuylkill Center provides important habitat for wildlife, and the restored and stewarded landscape of forest, meadows, and wetlands provides natural resources that clean air and filter water. In addition, the landscape is a living laboratory for scientists and an educational resource for students in Philadelphia. Protecting this landscape and building resilience into the structure provides a benefit to Philadelphia as this landscape continues to be a natural resource for the city. Increased development and impermeable paved surfaces can lead to the pooling of stormwater, increased flooding, and water that collects pollution that then runs into nearby rivers. In addition, flooding can lead to soil erosion, which can damage natural areas. As weather conditions become more severe, the erosion increases, which can increase muddy conditions and hurt plant life and wildlife habitats. These conditions have been an increasing problem around Port Royal Ave outside of the Schuylkill Center which has led to damage to the habitat surrounding Smith Run. The implementation of this project will result in the capture of runoff into a system of ditches, gullies, and banks engineered to manage stormwater and control and filter water into the natural landscape. This project is a cross-sector collaboration between private companies and funders, nonprofits, governmental agencies, and volunteers. Funding for this project is provided by the Philadelphia Water Department, Schuylkill River Greenways, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Schuylkill River Heritage Area Schuylkill River Restoration grant program, private donations, and the support of Schuylkill Center Members. Tree Planting Details No experience necessary to volunteer. Training will be provided by our expert staff during the workday. We recommend wearing long pants, sturdy boots or shoes. We will have a selection of gloves if needed but volunteers are welcome to bring their own if they have a favorite pair. We will provide tools for our volunteers. Please bring your own water bottle. This tree planting will be rain or shine. We will contact registered volunteers in the event of severe weather. Please register to let us know you’re coming. Groups are welcome to register, but each individual should sign up independently.