Safety Protocols
Safety Protocols
Trees Atlanta prioritizes the health and safety of our community, volunteers, and staff.
When participating in a Trees Atlanta event, please observe these safety protocols.
Education Events | Volunteer Projects | General Safety Recommendations
Adult and Family Education Programs, Tours, and other Group In-Person Events
By attending a Trees Atlanta Education Event, you are participating on your own accord and accept possible risks associated with interacting with other people.
- Weather. Outdoor events are fun in all sorts of weather! Trees Atlanta conducts scheduled events during most weather conditions; however, when extraordinary circumstances warrant, we will modify logistics, reschedule, or cancel events. If an event must be modified, rescheduled, or cancelled, Trees Atlanta will make every effort to notify registered* guests by email, social media updates, and/or other means, in a timely manner. (*Registered through Trees Atlanta’s calendar system.)
- Cancelled Events. If severe weather or other unforeseen business interruptions cause a change to our programs or events, the company reserves the right to close the facility, choose alternative locations, reschedule or cancel scheduled events on-site or off-site. Please review the refund policy for any paid programming (found on the event listing and your registration receipt).
- Health Precautions. For the considerations of others, please consider wearing a mask if you are not feeling well, otherwise not attend in person. Please email education@treesatlanta.org to cancel your registration.
- Who to Contact with Questions. Please check the email you received when you registered for your event. It will include the name of the program coordinator to contact should you have questions for each event.
Volunteer Projects and Events
Volunteers are the heart of our organization. It is a priority for Trees Atlanta to keep volunteers engaged, and do so in a manner that is healthy for everyone. Below is the current protocol we will use while working with volunteer groups.
Health and Safety
For the considerations of others, please consider wearing a mask if you are not feeling well, otherwise not attend in person. Please email volunteer@treesatlanta.org to cancel your registration.
Weather
Projects happen rain or shine, so please check the weather beforehand and come prepared. We will cancel projects if inclement weather such as lightning occurs and is forecasted to persist for the duration of the project. Because weather is sometimes unpredictable, the decision to cancel is typically made at the project start time. We will contact you via email if we choose to cancel in advance.
Who to Contact with Questions
Please check the email you received when you registered for your event. It will include the name of the program coordinator to contact should you have questions for each event.
Ages
Please check the volunteer opportunity description to see what ages are recommended for participation. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Volunteers who are ages 16 and 17 can attend without a parent/legal guardian if they bring a waiver signed by a parent/legal guardian with them.
Tree planting can be physically challenging, and youth under 16 need much assistance from adults to dig the holes (you could hit roots, rocks, compacted soil, or all of these!). Young kids can participate by massaging the tree’s root ball to loosen it, filling the holes back in, and mulching and watering the trees. Kids are really great at naming trees, too!
Most Forest Restoration and Tree Care projects are best for ages 12 and up.
Liability Release
All volunteers must agree to this liability waiver when registering for this project or when signing in at this project. Please read the agreement carefully and select ‘yes’ on this field when registering.
If you have any other concerns, please contact the project coordinator listed for each volunteer event or email susan@treesatlanta.org.
General Safety Recommendations
Update 7/13/22:
Masking is optional in Trees Atlanta buildings and vehicles until further notice.
Specific programs, such as Summer Camp, Youth Tree Team, and TreeKeepers class will continue to operate under the previously prescribed protocol and determined by the program Director (currently, mask required), until further notice.
Quarantine requirements for any individual who are exposed or tests positive remain in effect.
Update 1/14/22: The City of Atlanta updated its “COVID-19 Resilience Plan” to Red Zone, as of Dec. 28, 2021. In consideration of current advice from the CDC and with an abundance of caution, Trees Atlanta is continuing its safety protocols for mask requirements for indoor and outdoor events.
We request:
- You wear a mask upon arrival to any Trees Atlanta event. Please make sure your mask fits well and covers your mouth and nose.
- Please keep a mask on during check-in and the planting demonstration and any time you are working in close proximity to other volunteers not in your household.
- Masks are required for all volunteers when they are working within 6 feet of another person.
- If outdoors, you may take off your mask after check in and when not in close contact with others. A mask is not required outdoors if you are working alone or not with others outside of your household.
- Masks are required inside all Trees Atlanta buildings and vehicles (i.e., trucks, trailers, vans, etc.).
Update 7/28/21: The Mayor of the City of Atlanta has mandated masks are required for “all persons in a public place, including private businesses and establishments, to wear a mask or a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth when indoors.” Until further notice, all indoor events require attendees and staff to wear a face covering/mask.
View our updates to our COVID-19 protocol here.