Maine Tree Club Membership a Good Holiday Gift

Contact: Media contact: Richard J. Brzozowski, Cumberland County Cooperative Extension, 780-4205 or 1-800-287-1471 (in Maine)

ORONO, Maine — Trees have an honored place at the center of holiday celebrations, and they play many roles in our culture, science and the economy. Maine citizens can learn more about them through the Maine Tree Club, a program offered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Maine Forest Service and the Pine Tree Arboretum.

The club is designed for citizens young and old who want to learn about trees. Participants receive practical knowledge and skills to recognize 50 different types of trees. Every month, participants will receive mailings that highlight two species of Maine trees.

Outings are scheduled around the state in 2004 to get people into the woods for practical hands-on learning and enjoyment, says Richard Brzozowski of the Cumberland County Extension office. These outings are guided by experts and planned for the mountains, coastal regions and other parts of Maine.

“As a kid, I learned a bit about trees, but there is so much more to know,” says Brzozowski. “Trees are a magnificent part of nature! Cooperative Extension presents the Maine Tree Club so that anyone, from kids to grandparents, can learn how to identify trees and understand their importance.”

Participants will receive a hand lens, an attractive notebook, a weatherproof pocket guide to Maine trees, several practical guides related to tree care and a tree seedling to plant during Arbor Week.

Much of the knowledge gained by members of the Maine Tree Club can be easily applied in their own yards and communities. The annual registration fee is $15 per person, $25 per couple, and $30 per family. A group rate of $60 plus the costs of hand lenses is available to schools, clubs and other groups. Maine Tree Club Scholarships are available for those in need.

A free informational brochure is available from Extension at 1-800-287-1471, via e-mail at treeclub@umext.maine.edu or on the Maine Tree Club website.