The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) is an independent non-profit that funds research and education in arboriculture and urban forestry. Much of what the industry now treats as standard practice began as a research project someone paid for, and TREE Fund is one of the organizations that pays for it. It has awarded more than $6 million in grant and scholarship funding since 2002.
KAA and TREE Fund
The Kentucky chapter keeps a TREE Fund liaison on its board, and Kentucky arborists have taken part in TREE Fund fundraising and outreach for years, most visibly through the Tour des Trees.
What is the Tour des Trees?
The Tour des Trees is an annual long-distance cycling event, and TREE Fund’s main piece of public outreach and community engagement. Since 1992 its riders have cycled through communities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, planting trees, educating children and the public, and drawing attention to the work of arboriculture professionals and to the importance of science-based tree care.
Event expenses are covered by TREE Fund’s partners, so the money riders raise goes to new grants, to payments on multi-year grants awarded in earlier years, or into permanent endowment funds.
2026 Tour des Trees
The 2026 Tour des Trees runs 12–18 September through the Blue Ridge Mountains region of South and North Carolina. Registration is open from 20 January to 19 July. There is both a live ride and a Virtual Tour des Trees at-home event, so supporters can ride in person or take part in their own time.
The 2026 ride covers between 277 and 350 miles, with shorter and longer options available most days. The schedule, subject to change, is:
| Day | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 13 | Greenville, SC to Hendersonville, NC | 60–74 miles |
| Sept 14 | Hendersonville, NC to Brevard, NC | 53–74 miles |
| Sept 15 | Brevard area loop | 41–78 miles |
| Sept 16 | Brevard, NC to Asheville, NC | 79 miles |
| Sept 17 | Asheville area loop | 44 miles |
Register, create a fundraising page, or donate to a rider or team at tourdestrees.org. Locations for 2027 and 2028 have not been announced.
Registration dates, routes and fundraising minimums are set by TREE Fund and change each year. Check the current details with TREE Fund directly before making plans.