Sponsor a Tree, Change Our Community

                    Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets. 

                               To plant a pine, one need only own a shovel.

                                                       - Aldo Leopold -

What is the goal?

The goal of Children and Elders Forest is to add and sustain as many trees in the Bloomington-Normal area as possible by having multi-generational teams sponsor trees. Each tree-sponsoring team typically consists of at least one child and one elder, but there is no limit to how many people are on a team. In fact, the teams can be families, friends, or organizations. Many people also sponsor trees in memory of a loved one. A team chooses the available grove in which they want their tree. Each of the two currently available groves (Eagle and Songbird) has a variety of species from which to choose.

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How much does it cost?

The cost to sponsor a tree is $175, $150 of which goes to the partners of CEF for the cost of a tree and maintenance, while the other $25 goes to CEF for the cost of producing a tree tag and other expenses.

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Children and Elders Forest has partnered with Bloomington Parks and Recreation, Normal Parks and Recreation, Bloomington High School (District 87), Glenn School (Unit District 5), Illinois State University's Horticultural Center, and MJ Rhymer Family Nature Preserve in this endeavor.

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Who will take care of our sponsored tree?

The overall maintenance of each grove, including replacing a tree if it dies with the same or similar species, is the responsibility of the partner. CEF keeps the labels up to date, secures tags to trees, performs minor trimming and weeding, and picks up trash.

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CEF is a charitable educational corporation under section

501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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You see, the forests are the sanctuaries not only of wildlife, but also of the human spirit.  And every tree is a compact between generations. 
- George Herbert Walker Bush -