Norwalk Tree Alliance Begins Citywide Treesury Hunt With Xbox Grand Prize

The Norwalk Tree Alliance has launched a citywide treasure hunt designed for children and families to learn about how they can help the city’s urban canopy. The Treesury Hunt is available through the Actionbound app until September 2, and residents can learn about the invasive Norway Maple, and how they displace native trees and reduces biodiversity. 

Despite cloudy skies and a light drizzle, a spirited group of children, parents, organizers, and leaders, including Congressman Jim Himes, Mayor Harry Rilling, and mayoral candidates Barbara Smyth and Vinny Scicchitano, showed up for the launch last Wednesday.

“There has been so much growth in Norwalk, like Norwalk is on a tear in terms of new housing and everything, but planting in the natural environment around all that development, we’re behind,” said Representative Himes. “So, whether it’s South Norwalk or West Street, we need better streetscapes. We need more human-friendly streetscapes, and trees are the number one way to do that.”

Representative Himes’ view is one shared by Allan Broadbent, a Norwalk Tree Alliance board member, who stated that Norwalk is “rapidly building apartments and big box stores” and the community needs to come together to “keep pace with the built infrastructure so that the environment doesn’t lag behind.”

Norwalk’s current canopy coverage is at 43%, but with the Tree Master Plan, they hope it will increase to 53% by 2053. The strategy plans to plant over 60,000 trees by then, with initiatives like the Treasury Hunt playing a key role in achieving this objective. 

After downloading the app, participants will be directed to visit various trees around the town, snap a photo, and upload it to the app. The entries will then be available on the NTA’s back end. The goal is to collaborate with the city to plant a tree on private and public land for every entry received. 

While anyone can participate, the hunt is aimed at engaging more children and youth with the Alliance, after the organization found that it was easier to connect with older residents than kids. As such, the participant with the most entries will win an Xbox Series S. This prize is specifically selected with young people in mind, according to Tom Arbron, another NTA board member, and one that Grayson, a young Minecraft enthusiast, expressed excitement about.

In addition to the Xbox, children will be able to get plaques with their names on the trees when they are planted. 

“Every time they come down, or their grandchildren could theoretically, for 300 years, if they planted an oak, could see their name on a tree,” said Arbron. 

Lindsey Mulla, a parent at the launch, said she was happy that her three children could be a part of the event that showcases “life prospering from a little seed.”

“It’s absolutely gorgeous to have this time and see the fruitfulness that it brings to the community,” said Mulla, who also writes poetry. 

Her daughter, Hayley, who turns seven in September, said that she was excited “to see all the things that are growing,” while holding a book with a tree blazoned on the cover. 

According to Broadbent, the NTA hopes that this hunt helps residents to “walk out in their front yard, see a big open hole and say, there could be a tree there.” 

In Norwalk, which has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, according to Mayor Rilling, residents can get free trees planted by calling the city’s operations department and asking. 

“We’re very, very aware of the importance of trees and what they mean to a community,” said Mayor Rilling. He also went on to say that every year, the city plants a tree at different elementary schools so that “young people understand the importance of trees and how we can improve our tree canopy.”

The Norwalk Tree Alliance also offers residents free tree planting.

“Let’s partner together,” said Broadbent. “You don’t even have to pay for it. We’ll do it. We’ll plant the tree.”