Columbia TreeKeepers to give out trees for Arbor Day

COLUMBIA — Friday is Arbor Day, and to celebrate, the Columbia TreeKeeper volunteers will be giving away 700 bare-root seedlings starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Activity and Recreation Center, 1701 W. Ash St.

TreeKeeper volunteers and Parks and Recreation Department forestry staff will distribute seedlings of six types of trees: pin oak, tulip poplar, Norway spruce, pitch loblolly pine, bald cypress and redbud. Volunteers and staff will also be available to answer questions about the different types of trees or about the TreeKeeper program.

Individuals interested in becoming a TreeKeeper can participate in a six-week course beginning in early 2009. For any additional information on the tree giveaway, call the Office of Volunteer Services at 874-7499.