UPDATE: JOSEPHINE COUNTY HAS CANCELLED THIS EVENT DUE TO SNOWY WEATHER. THE NEXT YOUTH TREE PLANT IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 5-7, 2026
Weather permitting, more than 1,000 children are scheduled to take part in the 35th Annual Ross Roe Memorial Youth Tree Plant over the next three days.
Organized by the Josephine County Forestry Department, the plant is a three-day event just inside the southwest city limits of Grants Pass.
This is the only continuous youth tree plant in the state of Oregon. About 4,000 trees will be planted during this year's event, mostly pine trees along with some Douglas firs.
Children from local schools, scout groups, 4-H clubs and other groups from Josephine and Jackson counties participate in this event every year. More than 100,000 trees have been planted by 23,000 area children since 1990.
The annual tree plant was renamed to honor Ross Roe after his death in 2019 at the age of 91. Roe was a Grants Pass businessman who was instrumental in the creation of the event 35 years ago.
The plant is a hands-on and fun experience for the youth in the community to learn about trees and the forest. Participation is limited and must be pre-scheduled and coordinated with Josephine County Forestry.
