Then and Now
See the power of volunteer efforts over time. The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The next best time is today. View our volunteer events and register to volunteer.
Celebrating the new City of Goleta
February 2, 2002 – Mayor Margaret O’Connell and the newly elected Goleta City Council celebrate the first act of the new city by planted a new Coast Live Oak tree at the Goleta Community Center
July 17, 2026 – 24 years later, mature Coast Live Oak adds shade to the Old Town business district 5679 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117
Arbor Week Trees
March 7, 2008 – Mayor Michael Bennett, Supervisor Janet Wolf, and members of the Goleta Valley Beautiful Board of Directors, plant the 2008 Arbor Week tree on the grounds of the Goleta Community Center 5679 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117
March 7, 2008 – The plaque at the base of the tree commemorates the planting of a clone of the original Witness Tree from the 1700s
July 17, 2026 – 18 years later, the Western Sycamore clone ensures that the genetic traits of the Witness Tree will be preserved
Honor Trees
June 5, 2002 – County Supervisor Susan Rose with county staff stand by the Brisbane Box Honor Tree
June 5, 2002 – Plaque honoring Susan Rose planted along Cathedral Oaks Road across from Dos Pueblos High School. One of 200 Honor Trees planted throughout the Goleta Valley
July 10, 2026 – 24 years later, surrounding vegetation has grown around the trees planted north of the bike trail
Goleta Union School District
Brandon Elementary School
March 2003 Arbor Day Tree Planting with Brandon Elementary
July 28, 2026 – One of 77 trees planted on the Brandon campus since 2002
July 28, 2026 – 23 years later, mature Australian Willow provides shade to Brandon students
Kellogg Elementary
October 27, 2006 – Kellogg students planted tree by the bike racks
October 27, 2006 – One of 67 trees planted by GVB/YCT since 2002
July 28, 2026 – 20 years later, mature Sweet Bay Laurel provides shade to Kellogg students
Isla Vista Elementary
January 13, 2007 – Isla Vista and UCSB students plant Australian Willow and Brisbane Box trees in en courtyard
January 13, 2007 – five of the 65 trees planted by GVB/YCT since 2002
July 28, 2026 – 19 years later, shade trees dotting the Isla Vista Elementary promotion area
Hollister Elementary
March 12, 2002 – Hollister Kindergarten plant an Australian Willow for Arbor Day 2002
February 20, 2026 – 24 years later, one of 57 trees planted by GVB/YCT provide shade to Hollister Elementary students
La Patera
March 24, 2007 – No trees in the La Patera Elementary lunch area
March 24, 2007 – La Patera Elementary student and parent plant Australian Willow at lunch area
July 28, 2026 – 19 years later, several of the 66 trees planted by GVB/YCT since 2002 provide shade to La Patera campus
Foothill Elementary
March 3, 2007 – Arbor Week Tree Planting at Foothill Elementary
March 3, 2007 – The late principal Ed Armstrong with students planting Chinese Flame Tree
July 28, 2026 – 19 years later, one of 41 trees planted by GVB/YCT shading Foothill Elementary campus
Ellwood Elementary
April 25, 2005 – No trees on the Western end of the Ellwood campus
April 25, 2005 – Ellwood students and parents planting 3 Chinese Flame Trees
July 28, 2026 – 21 years later, several of the 71 trees planted by GVB/YCT shading Ellwood Elementary campus
El Camino Elementary
April 21, 2007 – No trees on the big field of El Camino Elementary
April 21, 2007 – El Camino students and parents planting a Chinese Flame Tree
July 28, 2026 – 19 years later, some of the 37 trees planted by GVB/YCT shading El Camino Elementary campus
Mountain View Elementary
October 6, 2007 – Mountain View students planting Chinese Flame Trees behind the baseball backstop
July 28, 2026 – 19 years later, some of the 27 trees planted by GVB/YCT shading Mountain View Elementary campus
UCSB Old Greenwaste Site
In Spring of 2018, the Cheadle Center partnered with YCT to grow and plant trees for UCSB restoration projects at the old Greenwaste site near Harder Stadium
On 4/18/17, YCT volunteers begin planting one gallon oaks protected by Gro-Tubes as part of 46 trees planted at the old Greenwaste site
Eight years later, the Coast Live Oaks are ten to fifteen feet tall and vigorously growing
UCSB North Campus Open Space (NCOS)
Beginning in the Fall of 2017 and continuing through February 2021, YCT planted 358 oak and riparian trees grown at the YCT campus nursery at the North Campus Open Space (NCOS)
On 11-4-17, YCT volunteers planted Alders, Sycamores and Cottonwoods along riparian corridor on the northeast portion of NCOS
Nine years later, the riparian trees are relishing their environment
UCSB Northwest Border
In April and May 2017, YCT volunteers planted 90 Coast Live Oak trees in a border area between UCSB and the City of Goleta
The area was an old eucalyptus grove that was cleared to promote the use of native trees grown at the YCT campus nursery
Nine years later, the oaks have established an new oak woodland
UCSB Bear Springs North
(formerly known as Ellwood Marine Terminal)
During the height of Covid beginning January 21, 2021, masked YCT volunteers planted 43 Oak trees north of the Ellwood Marine Terminal oil storage tanks
As was customary at the time, everyone distanced themselves seven feet from another person to avoid transmitting Covid
Five years later, the Coast Live oak trees that YCT grew at our campus nursery are now 10 to 15 feet tall
UCSB Bear Springs
(formerly known as Ellwood Marine Terminal)
In late 2025 and into 2026, YCT planted 263 Coast Live Oak trees at Ellwood EMT west and the main Bear Springs area
The heavy machinery used to reform the site compacted the soil, making tree planting challenging but rewarding
One year later, the oaks surrounding the site are just beginning to establish their roots and increase their canopy size
Coal Oil Point Reserve
YCT’s first planting project began in November 2014 at Coal Oil Point Reserve. Led by initial YCT at UCSB President Katasha Royal, VP Marina Varano, and Treasurer Matt Manabat, YCT planted 528 trees over the next three years.
YCT kept the trees irrigated using a 1000 gallon water tanker and several hundred feet of one inch hose
Twelve years later, some of the trees have established themselves but survival rates were not as high as later plantings once we gained more experience
Ellwood Mesa Butterfly Grove
Working with the Cheadle Center and the City of Goleta, in the summer of 2024 YCT crews cleared the grove site of invasive weeds, and constructed a holding ground for 500 trees
In the fall of 2024, YCT led hundreds of volunteers planting 357 15 gallon Eucalyptus trees in the Mesa Butterfly Grove and surrounding areas as replacements to shelter monarchs
Two years later, the established trees are vigorously growing and awaiting the arrival of butterflies
Santa Barbara Unified School District
Dos Pueblos High School
September 17, 2001 – Westside of Dos Pueblos High School along Alameda Dr.
Seven Jacarandas planted on September 17, 2001 among the 200+ trees planted by GVB/YCT
July 11, 2026 – Mature Jacarandas shading Dos Pueblo High students
SBUSD Schools Coming Soon
HUSD Schools Coming Soon
City of Goleta Coming Soon
Parks
Elings Park
February 28, 2019 – The original Veterans walkway memorial trees died during prolonged droughts
May 17, 2019 – 50 Target employees plant 80 Coast Live Oaks tree along the trail
September 12, 2026 – 7 years later, the 80 trees are maturing along with 80 trees along Valerio Trail and 100 trees to be planted on the Santa Barbara Foundation Trail
Waller Park
September 15, 2018 – Your Childrens’ Trees secures a CalFire grant to plant 400 trees in the city of Guadalupe and Waller Park
September 15, 2018 – Family volunteers plant trees along Area 2
6 years later shade is coming to Area 2 and other areas throughout the park
Girsh Park
February 8, 2006 – Western Sycamore cloned from the Witness Tree
July 17, 2026 – 20 years later, the tree is 40 feet in height
February 8, 2006 – Coast Live Oaks planted along the walkway
July 17, 2026 – 20 years later, some of the 150 trees planted at Girsh Park
Al Turnbull Grove
January 11, 2003, Goleta Valley Beautiful and the Optimist Club plant and care for 50 Coast Live Oak memorial trees in the Optimist Grove
March 6, 2010 – The Optimist Grove renamed in honor of Al Turnbull, who is instrumental in developing this honor grove of Coast Live Oak trees
July 17, 2026 – 23 the grove continues as a testimony to Al’s spirit
Stonebridge Open Space
May 2002 – Future treasure-tax collector Harry Hagen and volunteers planting 4 Coast Live Oaks in the Stonebridge Open Space
July 17, 2026 – 24 years later the money trees have matured
County of Santa Barbara
San Federico Ave
June 5, 2002 – 12 Newly planted African Fern Pine trees line San Federico Ave
June 5, 2002 – Goleta Valley Beautiful President Sam Alfano planting street trees in the parkway with volunteers
July 10, 2026 – 24 years later, some of the several hundred street trees planted along county unincorporated streets
Santa Barbara County Road Yard
February 23, 2002 – 13 African Fern Pine at the County Road Yard 4400 Catherderal Oaks Road with 10 GVB volunteers
July 10, 2026 – 24 years later, the African Fern Pines have matured
July 10, 2026 – Fern Pines thriving along with the 5 Coast Live Oaks planted later