At Hoyt Arboretum, the vibrant tapestry of our community is woven by the hands of passionate volunteers, like Sarah Tsai. Sarah’s story is one of personal connection, environmental stewardship, and a deep-rooted commitment to sharing the joy of nature with others.
Finding a Place to Grow
For Sarah, plants are more than just a hobby—they’re a symbol of connection. She first met her husband Dave during a group hike in Taiwan. Sarah has always been a naturalist and grew up hiking in her hometown of Taipei. Dave was in Taiwan conducting botany research, and talking with Dave about plants on their hikes “was like seeing a familiar world with new eyes.”
The couple’s shared love for nature became a cornerstone of their relationship, eventually leading Sarah to the states in March of 2020, to a COVID-times road trip to visit National and State Parks, and to a new home in Oregon. When Dave taught field botany classes, Sarah joined class trips whenever she could, including those to Hoyt Arboretum.
“I immediately loved the Arboretum,” she reflects, “it’s such a great place to explore with a botanist because of the diversity of trees and plants growing here–it’s amazing.”
Sarah’s passion for science is further supported by the ongoing learning opportunities HAF provides for volunteers.
Here, she and other volunteers examine Cryptomeria at one of the regularly-offered Volunteer Plant Walk & Talks with Mandy Tu, Hoyt Arboretum’s Plant Taxonomist. This Walk & Talk featured Living Fossils of the Tree World– just one of the many fascinating topics for which Mandy is a fount of knowledge!
Sarah and Dave purchased a home near Chapman Elementary, citing proximity to Hoyt along with a yard for native plant habitat and a view of the Vaux swifts from their kitchen window as major benefits.
“Being able to garden and work with plants is a luxury and a privilege,” Sarah shares. “In Taiwan, gardening opportunities are limited due to space constraints. Here, I get to engage directly with nature—to create an environment where plants can thrive.”
And, lucky for us, Sarah began sharing her passion for land stewardship with us as a volunteer on Tuesday Crew.
Tuesday Mornings
Hiking the 2.5 miles from her home in Northwest Portland to Hoyt Arboretum, Sarah then spends 4 hours with Tuesday Crew performing tasks like removing invasives, clearing debris, trail work, and more. Sarah’s joy for spending time in nature is infectious–even when the job for the day is rhizome pruning in the Bamboo Forest!
Bamboo is known for its vigorous and rapid growth, spreading primarily through underground rhizomes—horizontal root systems. Without regular rhizome pruning, bamboo can create a dense and tangled thicket that overtakes pathways and encroaches on other plantings.
The Dreaded Task!
This October, when Martin announced to Tuesday Crew that the job for the day was bamboo, audible groans echoed through the group.
Bamboo rhizomes are tough and fibrous, requiring the volunteers to dig deep with tools to sever the roots. It takes strength, and – on rainy days – it’s a dirty job.
After finishing for the day, Sarah looked over the big pile of cleared bamboo (destined for the elephants at the Oregon Zoo), and beams, “look at how much we accomplished!”
She continued by saying how supportive the Tuesday Crew working environment is, “When I can’t do any more digging, someone else takes over, and I can focus on something else,” she recalls. “It’s that sense of community—working together for a shared purpose—that keeps me coming back.”
Commitment to the Environment through Education
In 2024, Sarah’s volunteerism extended beyond Tuesdays and into education, where she led nature exploration stations at two Family Forest Days this summer. Sarah makes science approachable and fun, and appreciates the opportunity to spark lifelong connections to nature for the next generation.
“It’s so important to get kids interested in nature to be able to conserve it for more generations to come–and not just the kids–their parents and caregivers too!” Sarah states, then adds, “I had so much fun showing them cool things, I felt like I made a bunch of new young friends!”
Bringing People & Trees Together
Volunteers are the heartbeat that make nearly every Hoyt Arboretum program possible. They care for plants and trees, keep trails cleared, lead public tours and nature walks, assist visitors in the Visitor Center and on the trails, contribute to community science initiatives, and so much more!
If you’re considering joining our volunteer community Sarah would say, “Do it to make friends. Do it for your health. Do it for the common good.”
Join Us!
We invite you to be a part of our story.
Whether you can give your time through our volunteer programs, or provide financial support by becoming a member, together we can make sure that Hoyt Arboretum continues to be a place for all to connect and learn.