Pennsylvania Seedling Cooperative

Help Reforest the Chesapeake Bay watershed

A joint initiative of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (Alliance) and Penn State Extension, the Pennsylvania Seedling Cooperative (PA SCoop) is a collaborate volunteer project focused on growing native tree and shrub seedlings with volunteers. These seedlings are then planted in reforestation projects throughout Pennsylvania to support water quality improvement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Growing from the Ground Up

In 2019, a new Alliance volunteer offered to assist by helping to grow the trees used in Alliance plantings. With Alliance staff support and through her tireless dedication and experimentation, Wendy Smith has become an expert in growing trees from seed. She has produced thousands of native seedlings, which have been successfully used in Alliance reforestation projects. These trees have helped the Alliance stretch grant funding further and achieve more reforestation success.

Over the last few years, additional volunteers have begun growing trees from seed in their own “backyard nurseries” for use in Alliance and partner reforestation projects. Collectively, their efforts have demonstrated the utility of growing trees as an engagement practice and have proven that trees grown by novices can be used in reforestation efforts.

Benefits of Being a PA SCoop Volunteer

  • Learn native plant identification, care, growing skills, and forestry stewardship
  • Ability to have flexibility in volunteering locations/accessibility to do a lot of work at home
  • Play a key role in local conservation efforts and make an impact on Chesapeake Bay watershed reforesation efforts
  • Connect with Alliance staff and network with other like-minded volunteers part of the south-central Pennsylvania conservation community

PA SCoop Volunteer Resources Coming Soon!

 

Interested in Getting Involved?

A PA SCoop volunteer is a long-term volunteer who plants, germinates, grows, and fosters seedlings that are destined to be planted in a reforestation project (typically a riparian forest buffer). More details and expectations are outlined in the PA SCoop volunteer position description. If this type of volunteer position excites you, please consider signing up below.

Sign Up