Support Reforestation Across the Indigenous West

Trees, Water & People is excited to announce that we will be opening up our tree planting this year to volunteers! Our goal will be to plant 35,000 Ponderosa Pine seedlings on the Pine Ridge Reservation and Bear Butte State Park that were grown from South Dakota seed in the Colorado State Forest Service Tree Nursery in Fort Collins, Colorado. The day-to-day management of the project will be provided by Henry Red Cloud, who owns the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) along with the TWP Tribal program. 

Where we need your volunteer support is in the field and potentially at our home base site on Pine Ridge, the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center. Volunteers will be trained and supervised by Henry Red Cloud and his assigned crew leaders.

Tree Planters - Job Description

1.) Ground Prep

2.) Tree Planters

3.) Food Prep Cooks

4.) Tree Deliverers to planters

5.) Water crew

6.) Maintenance and clean up at Red Cloud Renewable

In order to successfully plant the seedlings, we need to first recruit individuals who have the ability to walk and work hard outside all day for AT LEAST A 3 DAY MINIMUM, in rough terrain and varying weather conditions. They must be able to able to work cooperatively, with hand tools, and be able to carry at least 25 pounds across irregular and variously sloping ground. Tree planting will start on Monday, May 7, 2018, and end May 23th. All training will take place at Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) and at the tree planting site. 

RCREC and/or TWP will provide the tools and training necessary to successfully plant the seedlings.  Crew members are required to plant trees according to the specific quality standards needed to best assure the long-term survival of the seedlings. 

Logistics

Lodging accommodations: The Sacred Earth Lodge sleeps 23 people in dormitory/hostel-style accommodations and has women and men showers a large kitchen and dining area. There is also plenty of ground for tent camping on site. Prairie Wind Casino is about 22 miles down the road. For this lodging, payment, and travel to site will be at your discretion. Crew transportation will be provided from RCREC to and from the job site by Henry Red Cloud, TWP and potential volunteers with larger vehicles. The planting site is approximately 13 miles north and west of Pine Ridge Village. With that said you are responsible to get to Pine Ridge, but once there pick up and drop off times to the tree planting site will be determined by the agreed upon drivers. There is a potential for folks to carpool if leaving from the same place. We can let folks know that are signed up how to get ahold of each other.

Elements: With the weather being so unpredictable these days come prepared for Heat, Rain and maybe even snow.  All tree planting crew members must have adequate footwear to work outdoors.

Food: RCREC and/or TWP will provide water, snacks, a light breakfast a sack lunch and a warm Dinner on-site to all crew members. Crew members with food allergies or other dietary restrictions may be required to bring their own food.

Dates: May 7^th through May 23^rd. TWP and RCREC will be planting through these dates. May has proven to be the best month to plant and the rain can sometimes make it difficult to get to these sites which could put off and delay tree planting sometimes. With that said though we are looking for volunteers to help on those dates. If you are interested in Volunteering or have more questions take a look at the jobs below and choose some dates that are best for you and e-mail the National Director, Eriq Acosta, at eriq@treeswaterpeople.org as soon as possible so that he can get logistics squared away.

If you are interested, please let Eriq Acosta, our Nation know your dates, the job you would like, and if you would like to stay at the Sacred Earth Lodge on the Red Cloud property. We are limited in tools for tree planting so 40-50 volunteers is max, but know that if you are interested in volunteering there is much work needed to be done at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center and we are more than happy for you to come up and volunteer your time and expertise, just let Eriq know your interest and we can get you set up!

Thanks,

Eric Acosta

National Director