Events

CRTI Partner Recognition Celebration

Join the Chicago Region Trees Initiative for its annual Partner Recognition Celebration.

Content Detail

The annual CRTI Partner Recognition Celebration honors leaders and innovators in urban and community forestry and the essential work they are doing.

We will share ideas, showcase the efforts and achievements of innovative partners who have contributed to the goals of CRTI, raise awareness about the importance of urban forestry and the benefits of trees, and provide opportunities for networking and collaboration.

Event Details

The 2025 Partner Recognition Celebration event will be hosted on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60649.

More information about the event and a formal invitation will be coming soon via the CRTI newsletter.

Urban Forestry Awards

Winners of the 2025 Urban Forestry Awards will be announced at the CRTI Partner Recognition Celebration on Saturday, December 6.

CRTI’s Urban Forestry Awards recognize outstanding innovators and changemakers who have contributed to urban forestry in the region.

Nominees may be exceptional partnership builders, public or private natural lands stewards, outreach champions, youth engagers, and others who are creating systemic and lasting improvements to urban forestry in the Chicago region.

Nominations are being accepted now and will close on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Submit a nomination.

Project Highlight Posters

Share your success at the Partner Recognition Celebration!

We will be creating digital project highlight posters to showcase the amazing forestry work happening around the seven-county Chicago region within the last year.

The posters will be shared digitally during the Partner Recognition Celebration event.

Submissions are being accepted now and will close on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Submit a summary of your project.

Event Schedule

An event schedule and program will be shared closer to the 2025 event date.

Urban Forestry Awards

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative recognizes organizations and individuals who have gone above and beyond over the past year on behalf of the regional forest and the communities who live there.

Nominate an organization or an individual for the Urban Forestry Awards.

Nominees may be exceptional partnership builders, public or private natural lands stewards, outreach champions, youth engagers, and others who are creating systemic and lasting improvements to urban forestry in the Chicago region.

Nominations are being accepted now and will close on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Submit a nomination.

Winners of the 2025 Urban Forestry Awards will be announced at the Partner Recognition Celebration on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the South Shore Cultural Center.

Award Categories

Urban Forester of the Year

This award celebrates an individual professional urban forester who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in the field of urban and community forestry.

Urban Forest Advocate

This award honors an individual or organization that has shown exceptional dedication to advocating for the protection, expansion, and maintenance of urban and community forests.

Urban Forest Innovator

This award recognizes an individual or organization that has introduced innovative practices and/or technologies; incorporated new disciplines, collaborations, or new ways of thinking about trees in the human environment; or created novel programs to enhance urban and community forestry.

Project Highlight Posters

Share your success at the CRTI Partner Recognition Celebration!

We will be creating digital posters to showcase the amazing forestry work happening within the last year around the seven-county Chicago region.

The posters will be shared digitally during the Partner Recognition Celebration on December 6, 2025, at the South Shore Cultural Center.

Submissions are being accepted now and will close on Friday, October 10, 2025.

Submit a summary of your project.

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