Cambridge Celebrates Arbor Week May 4-8

The Cambridge Department of Public Works invites you to celebrate Arbor Week May 4-8, featuring activities, information and giveaways that promote the City's Urban Forest.

All events are free!

Monday, May 4

Visit Joan Lorentz Park outside of the Main Library to learn fun facts about dozens of tree species on a self-guided tree walk around the park!

Tuesday, May 5

City Arborist Dave Lefcourt and the Committee of Public Planting will be tabling outside City Hall Annex at 344 Broadway from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Come learn about the urban forest and get a free seedling along with coloring book and crayon giveaways and more!

Wednesday, May 6

There will be a commemorative tree planting with Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Arborist Dave Lefcourt at one of Cambridge's elementary schools.

Join City Arborist Dave Lefcourt for a neighborhood tree walk from the Tobin Montessori School to Danehy Park at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested should meet in front of the Tobin Montessori School, 181 Vassal Lane. Look for the Urban Forestry feather flag for the meeting point! The walking route is approximately 1 mile.

Thursday, May 7

Arbor Week Celebration at the Main Library - The Department of Public Works Urban Forestry Division, members of the Committee on Public Planting and Green Cambridge will be outside the Main Library from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Members of the community are invited to come learn about Cambridge’s Urban Forest. Staff will be giving away free seedlings, coloring books, crayons and more!

Join Cambridge sound artist Skooby Laposky at Joan Lorentz Park from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for two sonic experiences celebrating Arbor Week!

• Tree Hugging Studies invites visitors to listen deeply to their own interactions with the park's beloved Copper Beech — contact with bark, branch, and root amplified and rendered intimate through close listening.

• Laposky will also debut Park Sounds, a new mobile web app that lets visitors build their own custom soundscape from a collection of live microphone feeds placed throughout the park.

Elm Cookie Display - Experience a rare look inside the life of a tree. On display will be a striking elm “cookie” cut from a 100-year-old American elm once growing on the Harvard University campus. Its rings tell a century-long story of growth, resilience, and change - each line marking a year in the tree’s life. Join us to experience it up close.

Bark Rub Activity - Use crayons and paper to create bark rubbings and discover the unique textures and patterns of local trees!

Tree Tea Tastings - Sample a taste of birch bark tea and linden flower/leaf tea!

Toddler Story Time at 11 a.m. - Librarians will be reading a tree-themed book to children outside the library. 

Friday, May 8

There will be a commemorative tree planting with Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Arborist Dave Lefcourt at one of Cambridge's city buildings.

If you can't attend these events, but still want to get involved, become a Cambridge Urban Forest Friend! Forest Friends take simple steps to help care for and protect Cambridge's urban forest. By helping plant, water, and advocate for the trees, volunteers help the forest thrive into the future. Forest Friends contribute to the vitality of our urban forest, protect our planet, and make our city a better place to live.