1. Extension Forestry
  2. White Oak – A symbol of Liberty and Independence in Connecticut

White Oak – A symbol of Liberty and Independence in Connecticut

In 2026 the US will be celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In Connecticut we will be celebrating our own path to liberty and independence and the importance of the White Oak tree to our culture, history, and to our people today! Uconn extension forestry is planning a variety of initiatives to celebrate this amazing tree. We will document it all on this page, so follow along for updates and information on how to get involved!

The trailer is up and running and the full length version will be available soon

  • Charter Oak Scion Seedlings 

    In September, about 500 acorns were collected from one of the documented scions of the original Charter Oak (scion located at the site of the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse in East Haddam.)

    These were planted in pots and arrayed in protective frames behind the Forest Ecology Lab at UConn (see photo below). With luck they will germinate in April.

    With a successful germination rate we anticipate having seedlings to distribute to towns and/or conservation organizations that wish to have them, along with guidance material about planting and care.

    Tree Wardens would be a welcome source of assistance in this endeavor.

  • White Oak trees have served as “witness” trees throughout the history of New England. They are large, strong, very long-lived, and have been used to mark boundaries and be parts of the landscape that are more permanent than buildings. It’s our turn to witness them. This space will house a survey where you can document the oldest and largest white oaks in your community. We intend to map them for all to see the distribution of these specimens across the state. Stay tuned for a link when the survey starts up!

  • Here is a story map for the Connecticut Forest Collaborative, a project from the Urban Forestry arm of UConn Extension Forestry. This project is all about scaling up stewardship, improving wildlife habitat, water quality, and the services that the trees on our landscape provide to us. They all be planting trees and engaging in other stewardship activities, and tracking it on this map. Stay tuned for more developments!

  • White Oak Lumber Projects – We are working on arranging to supply white oak lumber material to high school tech arts programs, with the idea that students will construct a project from white oak and connect it to the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Hikes and Field Tours– Conservation organizations, hiking and outing clubs, etc. will be encouraged to lead white oak-oriented tree walks, woodland workshops, habitat enhancements, etc.

Stay tuned for more updates and initiatives!

Our current partners include:

  • CT Humanities Council
  • UConn Extension Forestry & UConn Forest Crew
  • CT Deep Forestry Division
  • CT Cities and Towns
  • Documentary Participants

Please reach out if you want more information or to be a part of the projects!