UMD Extension's Woodland Stewards program has the goal of educating small woodland owners about the species present in their habitat and how to manage and protect it. You can reach out to their point-of-contact for more information and options for participating, since the program may be going through a transitional phase at the moment. We don't know if there is any organization in your area planting trees on private property, but they might know if there is.

You can also inquire with your county Extension office to see if they are aware of any local funding sources or plant discounts (like the state-wide Marylanders Plant Trees rebate program). We are not aware of any labor help available, but nonprofit tree-planting initiatives and similar organization might be in your area. (Casey Trees does this in D.C., for example.)

The pipes you are seeing "tree shelters" or "tree tubes," which are made from a variety of materials (generally plastic of one type or another, either solid or stiff mesh) that deter deer browsing until the saplings are a bit more established. They also help to protect trees from autumn antler rubbing ("buck rub") that can cause serious or even fatal damage to the bark, and may also defend against groundhog damage, or in wetland areas, maybe even beavers. Any number of entities planting trees, such as highway departments or state/county government reforestation projects, can use these tree shelters to help protect trees after planting that will otherwise have minimal after-care due to labor and budget constraints.

Miri