NYSA welcomed 30 competitors to Ithaca's Stewart Park on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20 for the 2026 Tree Climbing Championship. With idyllic day with sunshine and cool breezes, competitors, tech, judges, and others showed their skills and networked with fellow tree care professionals. 

Arborists, public officials, students and members of the public came out for tree planting activities around the state last month in observance of Arbor Day 2026.

Buffalo

About 40 arborists volunteered their time to Buffalo's Arbor Day project in the city's Cazenovia Park on Saturday, April 25. This year, the work was primarily focused on cleaning up storm thrown trees and removing hazardous trees along highly frequented pathways. In addition, many healthy trees were pruned and a few new trees were planted into the landscape.

Please join us in congratulating NYSA's 2026 Education Award winners: Ivan Hofman and Ethan Knight.

NYSA offers up to two $1,000 awards each year to help cover educational expenses for individuals studying, or planning to study, arboriculture, urban forestry or another tree-related subject and work in the field.

NYSA member Sarah Lilley is hitting the road next month in the 2025 Tour des Trees, a multi-day cycling event that supports the TREE Fund. Cyclists will raise funds for each day they ride and stop along the way to spread the word about the importance of trees and tree care.

Established in 2002 via a merger of the International Society of Arboriculture Research Trust and the National Arborist Foundation, TREE Fund (the acronym stands for Tree Research and Education Endowment) awards research grants, education grants and scholarships to advance the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry. 

This year's Tour des Trees takes place August 10-16, starting and ending in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The ride will be between roughly 416 and 449 miles. Some days will also have shorter route options available on some days.