Bartlett Tree Foundation

In the 1980s, the focus of arboriculture began shifting more and more into the technical environment of the laboratory. This change emphasized the need for a foundation to support students entering the profession at both 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities. The goal was to help provide them with financial assistance for the technical expertise they would need as they progressed in their careers in horticulture, forestry, arboriculture, and related disciplines. Thus, the Bartlett Tree Foundation was founded by Bartlett Tree Experts to advance the science of arboriculture through mentoring and support of future arborists and arboricultural courses of study.

The Foundation began with four eastern colleges and has expanded over the years. Today, the foundation has grown to provide funding for 29 institutions throughout the United States.

Original "seed money" was provided by The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company, which continues to support the foundation today. Others have provided assistance as well, including major contributions from members of the Bartlett family, individuals, Bartlett employees and a steady stream of honorariums.

A board of directors is advised by consulting directors from each of the participating institutions. Biannual meetings at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories are held as a forum for the discussion of education related to arboriculture.

We have nurtured a free exchange of ideas among the Foundation directors, consultants and students that has resulted in several important innovations in the ways that young people, even at the elementary school level, learn about our profession.

Presently, the Foundation awards annual $2,000.00 scholarships to students at 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities. Scholarship recipients are chosen by the institutions according to their own criteria. Bartlett Tree Experts personnel participate by conducting demonstrations, career days and lectures at the colleges and universities. We also offer internships to students and careers to graduates.

As the Foundation program continues to succeed we look back with pride at the opportunities it has created for the mutual benefit of the colleges, students, industry and Bartlett itself. The consumers of tree and shrub care also receive the benefit of receiving greater value for their money in terms of working with better-informed, safe, courteous, professional providers of the service.

A vocation can truly become an avocation. People in our industry feel that way about the services they provide. We are proud to nurture the up and coming generation as they take their place to advance the science of arboriculture.