TreeForce: An Urban Forestry Pre-Apprenticeship

TreeForce is an entry level career exploration pre-apprenticeship, geared towards folks curious about careers in urban and community forestry. The work is hands-on, team-oriented, and in-depth with content ranging from Tree Biology to pruning for structural health. TreeForce cohorts run three times a year, usually beginning in February, April, and September and running for 6-8 weeks. A typical week runs Monday - Thursday from 7:30am-2pm with lessons ranging from the classroom to the tops of our trees.

Interested in joining the Force? No worries! We aren't currently recruiting but just fill out this form to be the first to know when applications are open for our next TreeForce cohort.

INTEREST FORM

Providing a pathway to meaningful work in a growing field

A well-staffed, robust tree care sector is essential for the health and resilience of our cities. However, we are facing a shortage of workers needed to grow, plant, and care for our urban forest.

That’s why The Park People created a new Workforce Development Program in Urban Forestry. Launched as a pre-apprenticeship in 2022, TreeForce prepares adults from diverse backgrounds for meaningful career paths with family-supporting wages. Participants explore forestry career pathways through classroom, work-based, and hands-on learning. Upon completion of the program, pre-apprentices are encouraged to apply to the Colorado Arborist Apprenticeship Program or pursue employment opportunities in private tree care, municipal forestry, seedling production, tree planting, urban wood reuse, or higher education.

The pre-apprenticeship program facilitates partnership with various organizations in Denver and across Colorado to immerse participants in a full ecosystem of support, including critical wrap-around services like clothing, housing, and transportation. Cultivating every-day job skills and training in tree care is a central goal in these partnerships, expanding the scope of opportunities for participants. The pre-apprenticeship program also connects pre-screened and trained potential hires with employers to help bridge the gap between qualified tree-industry workers and the urban forestry sector.

Interested in joing a future crew? Contact Jane Smith (jane@TheParkPeople.org, 303-722-6262) about eligibility requirements for pre-apprentices.

A Special Thanks

The Zofnass Family funded the program's planning phase. Their generosity is invaluable, granting us the capacity to ensure that this program is structured wisely to meet critical community and industry needs.

Our Partners

We currently work with Second Chance Center and the Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership to deliver this program. We couldn't do this work without them!