Thursday, October 1, 2026
Last year, local nonprofit Restoring Earth Connection (REC), captured the city’s attention with masks through a student art exhibit on endangered species. This year, REC returned with a new community-powered project — this time focusing on Olympia’s urban forest.
Thanks to support from the City of Olympia’s Inspire Grant, REC launched the Tree Ambassador Project, a five-month effort to identify the largest trees in the city while educating residents about the essential role trees play in fighting climate change, supporting biodiversity, and improving public health.
The heart of the project was a city-wide canvassing effort. REC trained local volunteers — dubbed “Tree Ambassadors” — who knocked on doors, measured trunks, and handed out educational materials on the benefits of trees. That included carbon storage, pollution reduction, flood control, shade for cooling neighborhoods, and improved mental and physical health.
“Because the biggest trees do the most carbon drawdown, pollution capture, and storm water management, we focused on finding the biggest trees,” said REC Founder and Executive Director Lynn Fitz-Hugh.
Despite only 11 active volunteers, the team visited about 1,000 homes and recorded 1,520 trees across all four city quadrants and the downtown core. Winners were selected by species, quadrant, and overall size. Size was measured by circumference rather than height.
First place: For most of the contest’s duration, a coast redwood with a circumference of 30 feet led the pack. But on the final day, volunteers discovered a 31-foot, 11-inch sequoia, which claimed the title of Olympia’s largest known tree. (Its location remains private at the request of the property owner.)
Second place: A coast redwood at 1701 4th Ave W, of 30 feet in circumference, and formed by four trees grown together at the base, earned the distinction. The homeowner reportedly purchased the property specifically to protect the tree.
Third Place: A single trunk coast redwood that is 25-foot, 11-inch in circumference took third overall, and it is the largest single-trunk redwood. This tree towers five stories high. It is located in a front yard — with two nearly as large siblings in the backyard.
REC was able to pinpoint the largest known trees of 19 different species, as well as the biggest trees within each city section.
While the competition added excitement, education remained central to the mission. Tree Ambassadors shared flyers highlighting the environmental and economic value of mature trees. These materials explained how trees absorb greenhouse gases, cool neighborhoods, reduce energy costs, and prevent flooding by absorbing rainwater.
“Trees are working quietly to protect us,” Fitz-Hugh said. “We wanted to celebrate them — and encourage people to notice and protect what’s already in their yards.”
The effort also sparked neighborhood conversations. Residents were often surprised to learn that the trees shading their homes were also helping combat climate change.
Although only a fraction of Olympia’s trees were measured, the project offered a powerful first step in cataloging and protecting the city’s urban forest.
“On one level, this scratches the surface,” Fitz-Hugh acknowledged, “but we ensured each quadrant and a variety of neighborhoods were represented.”
REC hopes the database of trees will continue to grow, especially as more residents come forward.
“We’re hoping someone contacts us to say, ‘I have an even bigger tree,’” said Fitz-Hugh with a smile.
The Tree Ambassador Project highlights the power of community science and citizen engagement in addressing climate issues. REC welcomes future volunteers and tree reports as it continues its mission to connect people with nature — and each other.
To learn more, or to report a tree that might top the current champions, contact Restoring Earth Connection here.
The following is a list of the 2025 winning trees from largest to smallest.
| Type of Tree | Location | Circumference of tree* |
|---|---|---|
| Giant Sequoia (CA native) | undisclosed | 31’ 11” |
| Coastal redwood (grown together) | 1701 – 4th Ave W. (SW) | 30’ exactly |
| Coastal redwood – single main – CA native | 2116 Bethel NE | 25’ 11” |
| Western red cedar has multiple | 315 Puget NE - 4 grown together | 22’11” |
| Doug fir – native ~ 362 years old | 1201 Centerwood Dr. SE | 19’ exactly |
| Bigleaf maple - native | 1120 San Francisco NE | 18’ 9” |
| Madrone – native – unheard of big | See from alley behind Bethel and Yew St NE | Over 18’ |
| Ponderosa pine – this one is ill – More common to Eastern WA |
905 Giles NW by Westside Coop | 18’ 1” |
| Sitka spruce – rare and big native | on Karen Frazier SW | 16’ 11” |
| Deodar cedar -common | 1518 Union St. SE | 16 ‘ 7” |
| Norway spruce - common | 1716 Franklin St. | 16’ exact |
| Grand fir - common | 3210 1615 Puget Rd SE | 15’ 8” |
| Hinoki cypress - common | 600 Washington St. – OSPI | 14’ 4” |
| Beech tree - common | 826 Percival SW | 13’ 5” |
| Nootka (Alaskan) Cyprus Native | 3119 31st Ct SE (multiple leads) | 13’ 4” - really tall |
| Western hemlock– native | 1513 Dickinson Ave NW | 13’ 2” |
| Walnut tree – common | 1411 Middle St. SE | 12’ 5” & 11’ 4” sibling |
| Norway maple – common ~207 years | Milroy SW and 8th | 12’ 1” |
| Lawson/Or Cyprus (native to CA/OR) | 1230 5th Ave SE | 11’ 10” |
| Dogwood – native | 406 18th Ave SE | 10’ exactly |
| Scots Pine – common | 815 Hale NE | 10’ exactly |
| Dawn redwood | 1516 Giles NW | 9’ 11” |
| Monkey puzzle tree | 2021 7th St SW | 9’ 6” |
Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you'd like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.
6 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
RondaLarsonKramer
"Despite only 11 active volunteers, the team visited about 1,000 homes and recorded 1,520 trees." Wow! That's amazing! Great job everyone. This is an important endeavor.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Report this
DeaneTR
The caption for the photo at the start of this article is confusing. Please edit it! These are both photos of single trunk redwoods and tree on the left is a redwood known as Sequoia Giganteum (giant Sequoia) and tree on right is a redwood known as Sequoia Sempervirens (Coast Redwoods).
Of course the far greater injustice in all of this is the single-trunk requirement is an unfair loophole used to disqualify the largest redwood tree by volume in the city because it broke the 'rules' of having more than one trunk.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025 Report this
2theroots
Actually we have a category for trees that combine together so as is shown in the chart the largest tree (while single truck is 31'11" and the 2nd largest tree in the city is the one Deane lives with which is 30' around. The third largest one is also a single trunk tree and it also shown above.
Thursday, July 24, 2025 Report this
SecondOtter
I'm so surprised they didn't measure the two enormous Chestnut trees at Mills and Mills Cemetary on Littlerock Rd, right across from Costco. I think the last time they were checked they were found to be well over 150 years old.
Thursday, July 24, 2025 Report this
LindaD
There's a very large (Sequoia/Redwood?) at 2307 Olympia Ave NE. that should be on the list. I think it's as big as the ones shown, and it has babies! It, like all big trees, is a fine addition to any neighborhood.
Thursday, July 24, 2025 Report this
chrispc2u
I love the respect that our community shows for trees.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 Report this