Two free training walks are accepting registration
TreeFolks currently lists two upcoming Austin Tree ID for Seed Savers walks: Thursday, September 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Austin Central Library, and Saturday, September 26, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Carver Library. Both are free and open to anyone, but the organization asks participants to register before attending.
Help Austin verified the dates, times, locations and registration status on September 13, 2026. These are scheduled training events, not drop-in volunteer shifts. Registration expresses interest; participants should watch for organizer confirmation and recheck the official event page for weather, capacity or meeting-point changes.
- Choose the Central Library walk for a weekday evening session.
- Choose the Carver Library walk for a Saturday morning session.
- Register through the official TreeFolks event page before attending.
- Recheck the listing on the day of the walk.
Sources: TreeFolks Central Library Tree ID walk ↗ · TreeFolks Carver Library Tree ID walk ↗ · TreeFolks current volunteer calendar ↗
The walks teach a skill volunteers can use later
Each session teaches participants how to identify native trees and collect seeds safely and ethically for donation to the TreeFolks Seeds To Trees Native Nursery. The walks are designed as an entry point: participants learn what to look for before gathering material on their own.
TreeFolks says donated local seeds help it grow native trees for restoration work, City of Austin Watershed Protection projects and the NeighborWoods program. Because collection needs change as the nursery’s work progresses, volunteers should use the program’s current species list rather than collecting whatever happens to be available.
Sources: TreeFolks Native Tree Seed Collection Program ↗ · TreeFolks Central Library Tree ID walk ↗ · TreeFolks Carver Library Tree ID walk ↗
The September 24 walk meets beside Shoal Creek
The Central Library session runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, at 710 W. Cesar Chavez Street. TreeFolks instructs participants to meet the walk leader at the library’s east entrance along Shoal Creek.
Colleen Dieter, an ISA Certified Arborist and the founder of Central Texas Seed Savers, is listed as the leader. The official event description says the session will cover both native-tree identification and responsible collection techniques.
The September 26 walk starts at Carver Library
The Saturday session runs from 9 to 11 a.m. on September 26 at Carver Library, 1161 Angelina Street. Participants should meet at the front entrance. The library and neighboring Carver Museum are partnering on the nature-based program.
Dieter is also listed as the leader for this walk. The event is free and open to anyone, but registration is requested. TreeFolks does not publish a minimum age or accessibility guarantee on the event page, so families and anyone needing accommodations should contact the organizer before registering.
Seed collection continues beyond the two dates
After learning the basics, volunteers may collect requested species independently. TreeFolks directs participants to its current species list and Texas A&M Forest Service identification resource, then asks collectors to document the source tree through the project’s iNaturalist group or a paper collection form.
Seeds can be mailed or delivered with the required source information to TreeFolks at 10803 Platt Lane, Austin, TX 78725. The organization specifically asks anyone planning an in-person delivery to contact the nursery first at nursery@treefolks.org. Regular nursery volunteer days and special seed-processing events are separate opportunities whose current openings should be checked on the volunteer calendar.
- Do not collect until you can identify the requested species confidently.
- Follow TreeFolks’ seed-collection guide and record the source tree.
- Include the collection form or iNaturalist observation ID with a donation.
- Contact the nursery before delivering seeds in person.
Sources: TreeFolks Native Tree Seed Collection Program ↗ · TreeFolks current volunteer calendar ↗
Register for a walk, then confirm the next action
For most first-time participants, the clearest route is to register for one of the two September walks and use the official species and collection guides afterward. The training is free, and no prior tree-identification experience is listed as a requirement.
The two walks are dated opportunities; the seed-collection project is ongoing. That distinction matters because event capacity can close while independent collection continues. Use the current TreeFolks calendar for event registration and the program page for the latest collection needs.
Sources: TreeFolks Central Library Tree ID walk ↗ · TreeFolks Carver Library Tree ID walk ↗ · TreeFolks Native Tree Seed Collection Program ↗ · TreeFolks current volunteer calendar ↗
TreeFolks Seed Savers walks: quick answers
When are the upcoming TreeFolks Tree ID walks?
The Central Library walk is Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The Carver Library walk is Saturday, September 26, from 9 to 11 a.m.
How much do the walks cost?
Both official event pages describe the training as free and open to anyone, with advance registration requested.
What will participants learn?
The walks cover native-tree identification and safe, ethical seed collection for donation to the TreeFolks Seeds To Trees Native Nursery.
Can volunteers collect seeds after the walk?
Yes. TreeFolks provides a current species list, collection guidance and options to document the source tree through iNaturalist or a paper form.
Where do seed donations go?
Seeds and their source information can be mailed to TreeFolks at 10803 Platt Lane, Austin, TX 78725. Contact the nursery before making an in-person delivery.
Are these drop-in volunteer events?
No. TreeFolks asks participants to register, and availability or event details can change. Confirm through the official event page before attending.
About this story
Program spotlight based on the linked official sources, reviewed 2026-09-13. Open places and schedules can change. Confirm directly before attending. Help Austin is an independent directory.
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