Heartland Tree Alliance
Stronger communities through healthy trees
program mission
The mission of Heartland Tree Alliance is to engage people of the Greater Kansas City region to take action and advocate for a healthy community forest.
Heartland Tree Alliance educates people about all the critically important benefits created by urban trees, why these trees need extra care, and the proper ways to give them that care. We also organize planting events, pruning events and tree care workdays so people can get involved.
Since 2005, HTA volunteers have donated over 13,000 hours of time! The efforts put forth from these volunteers has enabled HTA to plant 17,874 trees, prune 3,264, and maintain an additional 2,527 trees by mulching or removing tree stakes.
heartland tree alliance projects
Learn more about how you can get involved with Heartland Tree Alliance.
Contribute to ourTREE FUND
Shape the future of our region's urban tree canopy by making a donation to the Heartland Tree Alliance's Tree Fund.
Every dollar donated supports efforts across the metropolitan region.
The Heartland Tree Alliance's Tree Fund supports tre planting events and education programs across the Kansas City region. Once your city's fund reaches $1,000 we will coordinate a volunteer planting events with your city forester.
learn moreheartland tree alliance FY 18-19 accomplishments
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2,501
volunteer hours worked
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5,533
trees planted
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65
citizens trained as TreeKeepers & OrchardKeepers
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635
youth educated about trees
VOLUNTEER with HTA
Join us in creating a sustainable community.
Calling all tree lovers! Volunteer with Bridging The Gap’s Heartland Tree Alliance (HTA) program! At our workdays, we explain why it’s important to maintain and increase our urban tree canopy, then we split into small groups to prune, plant or mulch small trees. We work throughout the metropolitan area, on both sides of the state line.
1,800 people volunteer with BTG each year. Be part of the movement!
find volunteer opportunitiesHTA SPEAKERS
Heartland Tree Alliance can provide a speaker for your next meeting! Our presentations are designed for neighborhood associations, businesses, and other groups in the Kansas City region.
request a speaker
HTA Steering Committee
Kim Bomberger
NC and NE District Community Forester
Kansas Forest Service
Dustin Branick
Horticulture and Forestry Supervisor
City of Leawood Kansas
Corey Creed
Horticulture Specialist
University of Missouri Extension
Chuck Conner
Community Forester
Missouri Department of Conservation
Leslie Dick
Belton Tree Board Member/Volunteer
Belton Missouri
Jared Lind
Park Maintenance Crew Leader
City of Lenexa Kansas
Lynn Loughary
Horticulture Extension Agent
Kansas State Extension Services
Janese Reed
Small Business Owner
Kansas City Missouri
Wendy Sangster
Community Forester
Missouri Department of Conservation
Geoff Vossen
Transmission and Distribution Vegetation Manager
Kansas City Power & Light
Robert Whitman
Associate Vice President, Landscape Architect
Gould Evans Architects
Heartland Tree Alliance Staff
- Sarah Crowder
Program Manager, ISA Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist SO-5327AM
- Joe Wheelock
Program Coordinator
- Erin Bopp
Community Outreach Specialist
- Ben Carpenter
Program Associate
- Kate Fowler
Neighborhood Specialist
- Amanda Gehin
Educator and Workday Coordinator
hta sponsors + partners
What's happening now
Drawdown
By Kristin Riott Executive Director, Bridging The Gap If you, like me, have been worried about climate change for a long time, the publication of the book Drawdown is a deep draught of water during a long walk through the desert: you can go on with renewed hope and vigor. Drawdown, edited by leading … Continued
Tree Transpiration – how does it work?
Tree transpiration is the process by which moisture (water) is carried through the tree from the roots to small pores on the underside of leaves. There it changes into vapor and is released into the atmosphere. About 10 percent of the moisture in the atmosphere is released by trees and plants through this process … Continued
Trees damaged by storm
In recent weeks, Kansas City has seen multiple storm events that caused damage to our tree canopy. Whether it be wind or snow, this damage can have lasting effects to the structural integrity of trees in your yard. It is important that you follow a few steps to ensure the safety of yourself and your … Continued
Volunteers Honored at Appreciation Lunch
On January 17, 2019 Bridging The Gap honored our volunteers with a volunteer appreciation luncheon held at the Kauffman Conference Center. This event was a rare and unique opportunity to gather BTG volunteers across all programs into one room, thanks to a volunteer appreciation grant from Cargill Cares! The lunch was sold-out, with more than … Continued
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