Family Acorn Harvest

Join us for a fun acorn harvest for the entire family and children of all ages! At this event, we'll explore our open space areas and harvest acorns used to grow native oaks for reforestation efforts. Bring your future scientists to learn about native oaks and how to properly collect healthy acorns that SacTree will plant at a later date. We will be walking through oak woodlands through areas of tall grass and uneven ground.

Please note: The location of this Acorn Harvest will be announced closer to the event date. It will tentatively take place in Rocklin.

The date for this event is subject to change, depending on acorn readiness. Any changes to this Acorn Harvest will be updated on this event page and communicated to anyone who has already registered.

We provide all the necessary training and supplies to harvest acorns. Participants will receive a short, hands-on training on site.

Register now! The week before this event, we will send a logistics and directions email with detailed information about how to get to the site. You will receive this email ONLY if you are signed-up for this planting.

Anyone, but those who live or work nearby are especially encouraged to attend! This event is open to the general public, you do not need any prior experience to join us and on-site training will be provided. Families with children are welcome.

Register in advance: Space is limited. If your plans change prior to the event, please update your registration status so we are sure to have the necessary number of volunteers.

Youth volunteers: Volunteers under 18 years of age must have their parent or legal guardian sign their consent form during registration. Volunteers under 16 years of age must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. One adult chaperone is required for every 6 youth under 16, or for every 2 youth under 10.

Waiver: All volunteers must pre-register and sign a completed volunteer waiver form during registration and BEFORE participating in the event.

COVID safety: Although we encourage attendees to be fully vaccinated, all attendees can choose to wear facial coverings at their own discretion. Anyone who has tested positive for COVID should not attend, unless more than 5 days have passed and they are asymptomatic and have tested negative on day 6 or later - please provide advance notice of cancellation when possible.

Clothes and shoes: Wear pants, long sleeves, closed-toed hiking boots or shoes, and sun protection. Dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather. Contact with poison oak, ticks, snakes, bees, or other wildland hazards is possible.

Arrival: Arrive on time. Check-in begins at 8:45 AM and volunteers must be present for the tool safety demonstration at the start of the event.

Food and drink: Bring a refillable water bottle and ample water; some water will be available on site if needed. Light snacks will be provided; please feel free to bring your own food.

Skills: No specific skills or tools required.

At all of our events, we prioritize including people who live or work in the community where the event takes place. Not all events can accommodate groups from outside the immediate project area. If you represent a group of 5+ people, please email [email protected] to discuss potential volunteer opportunities.

Public Transportation: TBA

Parking: TBA

At the Sacramento Tree Foundation, we steward our urban forest from seed to slab. The annual acorn harvest celebrates the beginnings of the lifecycle of our native oaks. Acorns are harvested by volunteers, carefully sorted by interns, grown into seedlings by schoolchildren, planted at reforestation sites by volunteers, and stewarded by our staff. When trees reach the end of their lifespans, we salvage and sell their wood to further support education and programming around the lifecycle of the urban forest.

If you have questions about this initiative or would like to get more deeply involved, please contact Pamela Sanchez, Education Programs Manager, at [email protected] or (916) 974-4311.

Donate to SacTree to support our work growing thriving communities through stewardship of our urban forest! SacTree relies on the support of friends, neighbors, and volunteers like you to make our work possible.

Reach out to [email protected] with any questions about registering for this event or volunteering with SacTree.

Host or Publisher Sacramento Tree Foundation