Marriott Ballroom 1-3

1. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
“Hi Catherine, I'm writing to congratulate you and your staff
on a fantastic job of organizing and carrying out today's
planting. I must admit that when I saw how many people
had gathered, I thought there was no way to avoid total
chaos. In fact, however, things ran very smoothly, and all
your people were not only knowledgeable, but also very
friendly and helpful. In short, it was educational, satisfying,
and fun, and I'm sure everyone there will volunteer again.”
– Community Leader and Volunteer
Doing Big Things
When You’re Small

2. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Doing Big Things
“Michael, welcome to Canopy, we just got a
massive state grant to plant 1,000 trees.”
- Canopy’s Director just after hiring
me

3. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
When You’re Small
“Wow, I thought Canopy had like 30
employees.”
- Volunteer

4. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Get Organized

5. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small

6. • Willow Oaks School Planting 3/29/2014 93
trees

7. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
• Pistachia chinensis Chinese Pistache
• Quercus engelmanii Engelman Oak

8. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
• Jack Farrell Park Before • Jack Farrell Park After

9. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small

10. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small

11. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small

12. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Tools

13. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Tools
Tarps Buckets Good Kid
Gloves

14. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
more Tools
Directional Signs Root Picks Branded Vests

15. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Tools
Auger
Tree Moving
Hook
Big Green
Digging Bar
Baby Food Jars

16. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Good Kid Shovels
more tools

17. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Tools

18. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small

19. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Building a Volunteer
Planting Program

20. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Build Relationships at all levels w/
Partners Receiving the Trees
• Check in often
• Listen to their needs and
wants
• Have some face time
• Physical change makes
things “real”

21. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Find Above Average Tree Expertise
• We can and have to do
better than the industry
average
• Few people really know
how to design large tree
plantings

22. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Use and Learn Irrigation Systems
• Also, shop at irrigation stores
• ACE Account

23. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Recruit and Train a Corps of
Competent Planting Leaders
• Quality control
• Volunteer Experience
• Efficiency
• Planting Leader Training
• Expectations
• Regularity
• Attrition

24. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Have Confidence Your
Paycheck Will Clear

25. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Planting Day

26. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Planting Day Tips
• Arrive ridiculously early
• Get people “in the know”
• Assign whole
responsibilities
• Train the trainers
• PL Pow wow
• Don’t plan on actually doing
anything!

27. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
More Planting Day Tips
• Have Trees delivered early
• 1:1 volunteer to tree ratio
• PLs check when trees go in
• Have back up tools
• Cooking show method
• The power of moving mulch
• Deliver water, granola bars,
and sunblock
• Don’t plant in a downpour

28. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Even More Planting Day Tips
• Flagging trick
• Assign teams
• Some scarcity of
tools is good for QC
• Assign and name
planting teams

29. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Don’t Forget to Have Fun!

30. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
A Little on Tree Care
• Take on the first
watering!
• Hand off care when
appropriate
• Tree planters
= tree stewards
• Don’t fall behind on
pruning

31. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Expanding Capacity
• 2 shift plantings
• Youth
employment
program (TUFs)
• Intern programs
• Don’t plant 200
trees on one day

32. • Michael Hawkins – Canopy Doing Big Things When You’re Small
Questions?