Planting Trees Keeps America Beautiful

The right tree, right place, right time, in the right way.

That’s the philosophy of our RETREET® program.

Why trees? Simply put: Trees give us life. They provide oxygen and clean air for us to breathe. They save water and energy, and even combat climate change.

Trees are just as important in urban environments as they are in forests. They not only cool down city streets in the summer, but studies show that urban forests have a significant positive impact on city dwellers by reducing stress and anxiety.

Unfortunately, when natural disasters strike, urban trees are often destroyed. And replanting them is not usually a top priority in rebuilding efforts.

It’s time to change that. And that’s where RETREET comes in.

Our unique program, now over a decade strong, provides disaster relief to communities on a local, state and national level by leading volunteers in restoring decimated urban forests. As one of America’s foremost community-based organizations, we understand the power of planting deep roots, both figuratively and literally. We’re dedicated to expanding our restoration efforts in the coming years, working with one community at a time. We’re in this together.

RETREET has planted over 6,000 native trees in communities across North America, thanks to the help of thousands of volunteers. And beyond that, RETREET has helped an untold number of people learn about the importance of trees in their communities.

Working Within Communities

KAB affiliates work in thousands of cities and towns across America, both big and small, bringing together local leaders and volunteers.

RETREET planting events are truly community-driven, centering local needs and engaging diverse partners to form teams of volunteers who spend a weekend planting native trees throughout neighborhoods under skilled supervision.

The right tree, right place, right time, in the right way.