About

The Adams County Conservation District has partnered with the Watershed Alliance of Adams County and invaluable volunteers from Penn State’s Master Gardeners and Master Watershed Stewards program and the dedicated community at large to form the Adams County Planting Partnership (ACPP). The ACPP has focused on enhancing water quality and promoting environmental stewardship throughout Adams County by distributing free native trees and shrubs to Adams County residents (and beyond). Planting trees and shrubs improves water quality by stabilizing soil and preventing erosion and sediment runoff, reducing polluted waterways by taking up nutrients, removing pollutants from stormwater runoff through filtration, mitigating floods by slowing the flow of water and improving infiltration.

Beyond water quality, the ACPP's efforts have yielded secondary benefits of improving habitat by providing food and shelter for wildlife, enhancing community health and well-being by beautifying the landscape, and enhancing biodiversity and increasing the variety of plant life in the region.

The ACPP's work had been significantly supported by the Keystone 10 Million Trees (K10) Partnership, led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. K10's funding to plant 10 million trees unfortunately expired in 2025.

The impact of K10 and the ACPP's contribution to it will be felt for generations to come. Through the K10 initiative, the ACPP distributed 98,765 trees and shrubs. Once fully mature, these plants can sequester 2.3 billion pounds of carbon and reduce 46,000 pounds of nitrogen, 6,473 pounds of phosphorus, and 111 tons of sediment pollution. This translates into environmental improvements across Adams County and contributes to the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Looking Ahead

ACPP is exploring an exciting new initiative: growing our own seedlings locally. Dedicated volunteers continue to support efforts to supply Adams County with native trees and shrubs. Volunteers are filling pots; collecting and planting seeds and nuts; nurturing, germinating and fostering seedlings in their backyards for future distribution and reforestation efforts. The Adams County Planting Partnership is proof that a community of volunteers working together can achieve meaningful environmental change.

Want To Help?

ACPP relies on volunteers to coordinate this program.  Please consider joining our committee or signing up to help with with seed collection, potting, growing, labeling, sorting, distributing, planting, and everything in between. 

Click on the button below to join the distribution list and be notified of the next seedling distribution or sign-up to be a volunteer.

Where are Trees Planted?

 The Planting Partnership Dashboard below presents a summary of the amount and locations of seedlings planted in Adams County over the last several distributions.

Carroll Valley Park Project Showcase

Scroll through the StoryMap to learn about the Carroll Valley Park Riparian Forest Buffer Project or open in full screen.