November 13, 2026
There’s something about the redwoods that sticks with you. For some people, a childhood visit sparks a lifelong bond with the forest. For others, the connection comes from learning more about what makes these trees so special.
For our Evergreen Members, this love of redwoods has grown into a lasting commitment to protect and restore these remarkable forests. Their monthly giving provides steady support for our work, helping Save the Redwoods League take on long-term restoration projects and move quickly on opportunities to purchase redwood lands.
Today, our Evergreen community is thousands strong. Though members vary in age, background, and life experience, they are linked by a shared appreciation for the beauty, resilience, and strength of the redwoods. Here, a few members share what inspires them to care for the trees.
Ben Chichester wears his California State Parks uniform. Photo courtesy of Teddi Chichester.
Passing down a park legacy
“A beautiful tan Stetson with a leather band reading ‘State of California,’ embossed with fierce grizzlies and poppy blossoms. This is my most cherished memento of my father Ben Chichester’s career as a seasonal naturalist at Redwood National and State Parks. His guided hikes and campfire presentations taught all of us that the whole redwood forest—not just celebrity specimens—needed our love and care. We learned that the old-growth forest is much more than a recreational space or repository for the World’s Tallest Trees: It’s a living, interconnected being whose beating heart syncs up with our own pulses.
My dad, who passed away several years ago, would be so pleased with the transformative work Save the Redwoods League continues to do, especially its years-long restoration and recent return of ‘O Rew to the Yurok Tribe. And he would definitely applaud the League’s Redwoods Rising initiative—which inspired me to become an Evergreen Member—as it helps damaged forests recover from decades of logging, road building, and misguided management.”
—Teddi Chichester, writer and educator
Rebecca Canright’s love for nature took root on her family’s organic farm. Photo by Rebecca Canright.
Taking action for the planet
“I grew up on the East Coast and have always been a lover of the outdoors. But in college I experienced the beauty of Armstrong Woods when I was visiting my friend in Sonoma County. That was such an incredible experience—I was so blown away by their tranquility and cool, quiet loveliness and majesty.
I want to be part of the movement to safeguard these treasures for future generations, because as a young person myself, I’m concerned about climate change and want to reverse it. I know we all have much more power than we may think to protect our ecosystems and sequester carbon by protecting redwoods and other precious forests. To me, they represent ecological resilience and an ancient wild legacy that deserves to be safeguarded.”
—Rebecca Canright, naturalist, educator, and environmental advocate
Chris Hammett finds inspiration in the Tall Trees Grove. Photo by Katherine Hammett.
Awe that lasts a lifetime
“My first encounter with the redwoods came after I had driven down the coast from the Columbia River, seeing ever larger trees along the way. As a Midwesterner I had never seen anything like them. I asked a ranger about good places to hike, and she suggested the Tall Trees Grove. ‘It’ll be just you and the trees,’ she said.
That wasn’t quite true, but it was true enough. In the silence of the woods, I could hear the trees groaning and knocking against each other as if they were speaking an ancient language. I feel it is one of the world’s great cathedrals, and I want it to be there for generations after me to feel the same awe I felt.”
—Chris Hammett, nonprofit manager
In honor of Leif’s eighth birthday, his family dedicated a redwood tree, which he named “Braenchie.” Photo by Erin Gardner.
Stewardship across generations
“The redwoods bring me perspective, remind me to be grateful and appreciate my life, and seem to me like large, benevolent beings looking after all living things. I want to protect our forests for my children, other children, and all the plants and animals that depend on them—they are a shared source of beauty and peace.”
—Erin Gardner, nature lover and
operations manager
“The redwoods bring me a feeling of peace, comfort, quiet, and calm. It feels like the trees are trying to take care of us and show us the right way. They are so beautiful, and I want to protect them because they protect us.”
—Leif Ede, third grader
