News And Stories
Tree Trust's Summer Youth Program Begins
Twenty-five Tree Trust Summer Youth crews picked up their tools Monday, June 23 and began work on major landscaping projects in parks and nature areas in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Washington, Dakota and suburban Hennepin Counties. This summer, 400 youth will work together to complete boardwalks, staircases and other landscaping projects in or near their own communities.
The youth, ages 14-21, qualified for the program on a need basis and are working in structured groups of six to eight members, supervised by a trained crew leader. They are learning basic jobs skills ranging from getting to work on time to demonstrating leadership and problem solving skills. For many of the youth, this is their first job experience.
Over the summer, the crews also will participate in Team Tech educational workshops, for which they can receive high school credit. Using mobile computer labs, the youth will learn to use computers on the job to estimate project costs, earnings and savings. They also will write a letter to the community explaining their project.
The goals of the program are to provide the youth with the opportunity to learn skills that will help them find future jobs and instill in them a desire to better their communities. The Summer Youth crews are just one way Tree Trust is "transforming lives and landscapes" for a stronger, healthier community.
Major funding for the program comes from state and federal job training funds, Hennepin, Dakota, and Washington Counties, the cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis and donations from area foundations, corporations and individuals. Area parks and nature centers provide projects and materials for the program.
Tree Trust
2350 Wycliff Street Suite 200
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-644-5800
Fax: 651-644-1469
