The Stihl Tour des Trees will give riders a chance to “Pedal the Piedmont” this year to benefit the Tree Research & Education Endowment (TREE) Fund. The Tour kicks off Oct. 9 in Charlotte, NC, and wraps up on the Oct. 15, back in Charlotte. Tour riders visit dozens of communities along their route, planting trees in cities and parks, educating children and adults on why we need trees to survive and thrive, and engaging with local tree stewards about the importance of continued research to support science-based tree care.
Organizers for the 2016 Stihl Tour des Trees, the largest community engagement and fundraising event for the TREE Fund, anticipate raising more than $325,000 for tree research and education programs aimed at connecting young people with the environment and career opportunities in the green industries. Since 2002, TREE Fund has issued nearly $3 million in research, scholarship and education grants for urban forestry and arboriculture researchers, as well as student and community education programs. On-going research provides communities and tree care professionals proven strategies on how to better propagate, plant and care for trees, creating a more resilient and healthier urban canopy.
The 2016 Tour rolls out of Charlotte on Oct. 9 and travels 561 scenic miles through North and South Carolina, returning to Charlotte for a victory lap through the city on Oct. 15. Overnight stops include Mount Airy, Greensboro, Raleigh, Southern Pines, Camden and Charlotte.
Registration for the full Tour (seven days) is limited to 100 cyclists and closes May 31 or when the roster reaches capacity. Each full-Tour cyclist commits to raising $3,500 for the TREE Fund. The $100 registration fee covers lodging and meals for the week, a custom apparel kit and full mechanical support. A partial Tour registration option with a prorated fundraising requirement is also available.
To learn more, including how to register, visit stihltourdestrees.org.
2016 TREE Fund sponsors include Stihl Inc.; Bartlett Tree Experts; Davey Tree Expert Co.; International Society of Arboriculture (ISA); Arborjet; Asplundh Tree Expert Co.; ISA Southern Chapter; Tree Care Industry Assn.; KASK Helmets; Tree Services; Arbor Age; Arizona Public Service; National Grid; PacifiCorp; West Coast Arborists Inc.; SavATree; Utility Arborists Assn.; Lentzcaping Inc.; Gamma Tree Experts; Bandit Industries; Morbark; Trees, Inc.; Lewis Tree Service; NALP; Workshop Creative Group; Wheel & Sprocket; Unitil; Ford Motor Co.; Forestry Equipment of Va.; Norscot; Vermeer and Wright Tree Service, Inc.