Rensselaer Urban Forestry Council

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Rensselaer Urban Forestry Council RUFC promotes the health of the Rensselaer community's urban forest and encourages public awareness and education of the value of community trees.

RUFC Accomplishments:

1. Achieved the distinction of "Tree City USA" from the National Arbor Day Foundation. We have achieved this designation for 6 consecutive years (as of 2014).

2. Completed a basic tree inventory of the city's street, park and cemetery trees

3. Received Growth Award for 3 consecutive years from the Arbor Day Foundation

4. Planted nearly 200 trees since inception

5. Purchased a tree auger with grant money from the Jasper Foundation and gifted it to the city of Rensselaer

6. Developed a nursery of seedlings and larger tree stock

7. In 2013, purchased and planted 41 trees for Phase 1 of Potawatomi Park with a grant from Indiana Department of Natural Resources (INDNR)

8. In 2014, purchased 60 trees with a grant from INDNR. Plantings occurred in Phase 2 of Potawatomi Park, along McKinley Ave., in Weston Cemetery and in Brookside Park. RUFC Goals:

1. To step up planting practices and species diversification for the city of Rensselaer's aging and/or diseased tree population.

2. Our strategic plan is to focus our plantings in highly traveled areas where they will have the most impact in cleaning the air we breathe and mitigate the pollutants.

It’s that time of year again. 🍁 🍂
10/14/2026

It’s that time of year again. 🍁 🍂

Learn all that you can about the tree pictured, as later in the month we will ask two questions about the tree. The firs...
10/06/2026

Learn all that you can about the tree pictured, as later in the month we will ask two questions about the tree. The first person to answer the two questions, after we post them, will win a $25 gift card from Cup of Joy, Too.
The questions will be two of the following questions:
1) What is the common name of the tree?
2) What is the scientific name of the tree?
3) What was the name that early pioneers called the tree?
4) Where is the tree located?
5) Is the tree native to Indiana?
6) Approximately how tall is the tree?
7) Approximately how old is the tree?
8) Does the tree bear fruit?
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

08/26/2026

A little Dolly wisdom worth carrying with us. 💚

“We should pay more attention. We’re just mistreating Mother Nature—that’s like being ugly to your mama.”

Dolly Parton had a way of putting things simply — and making them stick.

Today, we remember a legend who left the world a little brighter, and this reminder to take better care of the world we share. 🌎

Rest in peace, Dolly. 🕊️

— From Dolly Parton’s 2022 interview with National Geographic

08/22/2026

The future won’t remember how much we complained about the heat. It will remember what we planted.

The RUFC becomes philosophical 🧐
08/05/2026

The RUFC becomes philosophical 🧐

07/24/2026

ICONIC INDIANA TREES - SYCAMORE: Among hardwood trees in North America, the American sycamore can grow to the largest diameter. Their fast growth, combined with the ability to live up to 600 years, has produced true giants capable of reaching 40 feet in circumference and well over 100 feet in height! Many of these colossal trees had unfortunately been cut or succumbed to storm damage by the early 20th century. Sycamores grown in the open tend to have short, thick trunks with heavy, spreading limbs that can leave them vulnerable to high winds, especially in older trees that are prone to forming cavities. However, some remnants of historic sycamores have been preserved by the communities who loved them for future Hoosiers to appreciate, including a large limb from a Worthington sycamore tree that was reported to measure over 42 feet in circumference and the stump of a Howard County sycamore that was reported to be a whopping 57 feet in circumference!

What is the largest sycamore you’ve ever seen? Learn more about Indiana’s biggest trees today by exploring the Big Tree Register at on.IN.gov/big-tree!

Follow Indiana DNR Division of Forestry for more about Indiana’s iconic trees!

07/15/2026

Older trees are treasures growing slowly through time, strength, and natural harmony beautifully.

07/10/2026

No screens, no schedules... just dirt, sticks, and imagination. 🪵

Kids don't need a Wi-Fi connection to create something amazing. Trees Indiana is dedicated to giving kids the space to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature. What will they build today?

Learn more about our mission: https://bit.ly/44wfaDL

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” ~ Warren Buffett 🌳🌳🌳
07/09/2026

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” ~ Warren Buffett 🌳🌳🌳

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07/01/2026

The hottest places are often the ones where trees were treated as obstacles.

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Rensselaer, IN
47978

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