Tree Trust News and Stories

Impressions of 2011 - Youth Conservation Corps

2012-01-26T09:27:00.000-06:00

Each year, there seems to be aunique event that adds definition and complexity to the Youth ConservationCorps program. This year’s challenge: the State of Minnesota governmentshutdown that occurred just one week into the program.

Youth work on a staircase at Theo Wirth Golf Course

Theimpacts of the shutdown spread quickly through the program. Some positions weresuspended, some youth had to change work sites, and some were not able to startat all – either way, disruption was felt. Most of our youth were able to start work again after the shutdown ended. Once they began work, theextremely hot and wet weather conditions challenged even the most dedicatedworkers. But attendance rates remained high and spirits even higher, amazingprojects were completed and staff worked hard and creatively to minimizeimpacts on youth.

While challenging, disruptive anddisappointing at times, there is no question that the program achieved success.This was evident in the youth as well as the projects they completed. In theend, those that had the opportunity to continue working gained valuable skillsand a better understanding of how bigger picture events can and will impacttheir lives. There is no question that the shutdown and the obstacles thatresulted strengthened the program and our commitment to the youth we serve.

– Felecia Schmidt, YCC Program Coordinator

Impressions of 2011 – Young Adult Conservation Corps

2012-01-19T13:21:00.000-06:00

Looking back on the year has made me realize how much the Young Adult Conservation Corps program (YACC)has changed, while keeping and building on the successes of the past. For thefirst time since 2006, all YACC staff and participants were together in onebuilding. With the new building came a fantastic training room that we useevery week to provide job training to our young adults. We welcomed two newcrew leaders, Janessa and Nicole, to our staff, and have been fortified by theconsistency and quality of our other staff: Matt, Keith, Elliot, Laura, and Charlie. We made a few internal organizational changes to help with crew leader and participant support, and said farewell to Diana (aYACC supervisor) when she moved to Tree Trust’s Community Forestry Department.

Shoveling snow!

We implemented a new morning stretching routine to getthe blood pumping, and as a program (staff and participants) did about75,000 pushups. Early in the year, we battled everything Minnesota had to throwat us shoveling the 5^th snowiest winter on record. We completed manyprojects for local municipalities, with the crown jewel being an 1100 footboardwalk at Westwood Hills Nature Center. Our crews mowed lawns at countless foreclosed homes inMinneapolis and weekly at five Hennepin County Libraries, and we helped maintain the MidtownGreenway Corridor. We persevered through the state government shutdown withouthaving to stop any of our work, thanks in part to the diverse contracts weservice.

Boardwalk in Progress

For all of the new in 2011, I’m still awed by what YACCdoes every year. Looking at the property maintained,construction projects completed, and the amount of tree work accomplished,I am astonished by the raw numbers. For example, the Westwood Hillsboardwalk required our crews to move over 1 MILLION pounds of lumber…byhand…through the mud…at least ¼ mile one way!

YACC’s involvement with buckthorn eradication efforts on Hennepin CountyRegional Railroad Authority property left a section of trail from Minnetonka toChaska buckthorn free. To visualize the 2011 buckthornremoval quantity, imagine an area that has 60-75 football fields all together.Now go cut it down one buckthorn tree at a time, then haul each tree up a hill!

Asamazing as these achievements are, what’s more amazing is that our young adult crewsdo this type of work day after day after day, learning new skills along theway, and realizing that to finish any project they have to work as a team to getthe job done. Our staff is amazing, and the positive changes we see in theyouth during their short stop here would not be possible without theirdedication. To all who helped, participated, supported, and funded YACC in2011, thank you.

–Anders Oredson, ProjectDeveloper & Training Manager

Tree Trust removing buckthorn instead of snow

2012-01-10T14:25:00.000-06:00

Buckthorn is an invasive species that was introduced to Minnesota in the mid-1800's. It was used as hedging material initially, but it was found to be very invasive. The incredibly mild winter that we have had so far has lessened the need for snow removal and allowed us to continue with one of our standard non-winter activities instead: buckthorn removal. So far this winter Tree Trust's Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) Program and Landscape Services (LS) Department have put in a lot more time removing buckthorn than snow.

Thanks to Aaron Freng, Landscape Services' Project Foreman, for the following description of YACC's and LS's buckthorn removal:

YACC and LS are at it again--busting buckthorn in suburban Hennepin County along the HCRRA’s [Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority] Hopkins to Chaska and Dakota Trails! While some years we offer snow removal and ice management services…this year we are out defeating buckthorn. Our crews led by Elliot, Charles, Nicole, Laura, Janessa, Matt, and Sam have cut and chipped nearly two hundred cubic yards of buckthorn. These fierce men and women go at it every day with one of the most horrific and obnoxious non-native and invasive species that our state has in its soils!

The crew leaders and crew members are out cutting, dragging, and chipping into 1-ton dump trucks and hauling the chips in for bio-mass recycling at SKB Environmental in Minneapolis. The 200 yards of chips that our team has processed in the last month would actually fill two full size semi-trucks with wood chips!

Since 2011 was a year of weather extremes, finishing out December 2011 removing buckthorn instead of snow should come as no surprise. However, this is still Minnesota so we know the snow will come eventually and we'll all be pulling out the shovels. Until then... buckthorn be gone!

Tree Trust in North Minneapolis

2011-12-30T08:16:00.000-06:00

On May 22nd, 2011, a tornado ripped through North Minneapolis taking two lives, injuring many, causing damage to homes and buildings, and tearing out trees. Since then, a variety of Tree Trust programs have worked in North Minneapolis to aid in tornado recovery.

YouthBuild

In the immediate aftermath of the tornado, YouthBuild participants and staff members who lived in North Minneapolis were out in their community cleaning up debris and helping neighbors. These individuals live in North Minneapolis, and they also spend their days working there.

Our YouthBuild program rehabs and rebuilds homes and apartment buildings, primarily in North Minneapolis. This program typically only runs during the school year, but this summer, thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Helps - North Minneapolis Recovery Fund, YouthBuild was able to have a crew working in the tornado-affected area.

This program works with youth who are in school, but are at risk of not succeeding in education or employment. They learn construction skills and employment soft skills in their work rehabbing and rebuilding houses and apartment buildings. Since the tornado, participants have worked on tornado-damaged residences as well as rehabbed other buildings to increase the number of rentals available to those without housing as a result of the tornado.

North Minneapolis Reforest Project

Thousands of trees were lost in the tornado and our Community Forestry Department is doing its part to reforest North Minneapolis.

In the fall of 2011, thanks to a grant from State Farm Insurance, Tree Trust staff and volunteers distributed 202 trees to North Minneapolis residents to plant on private property. There were also five trees given to Nellie Stone Johnson Community School to plant on their grounds.

A number of North Minneapolis residents were unable to plant their own trees. We did not want that to stop them from participating in the program, so our Young Adult Conservation Corps, under the guidance of our Community Forestry Specialist, planted some trees for residents who could not plant them on their own.

Tree Trust has had a presence in North Minneapolis for many years. Our programs serve many disadvantaged youth and adults in that community and around the metro. Our Youth Conservation Corps, YouthBuild, and Young Adult Conservation Corps have completed many landscaping, construction, and home rehabbing projects in North Minneapolis. Community Forestry has brought our Learning with Trees program to a number schools in North Minneapolis neighborhoods over the years. Tornado recovery efforts are an extension of the services that Tree Trust already provides.

Photo documentary to benefit Tree Trust

2011-12-29T10:36:00.000-06:00

Two Twin Cities organizations, EDIT and Bolder Options, have partnered on a project to document the damage in North Minneapolis from the May 22nd, 2011 tornado.

The mission of EDIT is to empower youth and communities to expand their awareness of diversity issues, embrace a journey toward greater understanding and acceptance, and become committed to social action in order to create a more inclusive society. The mission of Bolder Options is Teaching Youth to Succeed in ALL of Life's Races. Both organizations work to involve youth in a number of different programs.

This particular project involves 15 youth, ages 10-14. Youth wanted to show the struggle, hope, and need that resulted from the tornado through a photo documentary project. Participants went into the North Minneapolis community where each youth took photos of the people, places, landscape, and anything else that inspired them. Their photos will be displayed at the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC). The gallery opening will be Thursday, January 12th from 5-7 PM.

This event will be a fundraiser for organizations that have worked in North Minneapolis on the recovery and rebuilding effort. Tree Trust and Urban Homeworks are the two organizations that the participants selected as beneficiaries.

For more details on Tree Trust's tornado recovery efforts, please check our News and Stories page tomorrow, December 30th.

Winter Program Highlights

2011-12-09T14:46:00.001-06:00

To an outsider, it appears that the slowest time of year at Tree Trust is the winter. Our Community Forestry department holds planting events in the spring and fall in order to work in ideal weather conditions for young trees, and our Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) works with participants in the summer since they are in school for the rest of the year.

We may not have as many program participants and volunteers in the winter, but that does not mean that winter is slow for our staff. Those programs involve a lot of planning and evaluation throughout the rest of the year in order to improve them and provide participants and volunteers with the best possible experience.

Additionally, Tree Trust has many other programs that involve participants year-round. Highlights from some of those programs follow:

Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC)

YACC's graduation ceremony was held on December 2nd; 13 young adults graduated from the program
A new YACC cohort began on December 6th and will involve 16 young adults in on-the-job training in landscape and construction, as well as employment soft skills
A new crew leader has also been hired, but has not yet begun work with Tree Trust

Youth Development Services (YDS)

YDS has a new case manager; Sally Murphy started on November 14th
Sally will be working with youth in Eden Prairie and Brooklyn Center High Schools to help youth with education, employment, and life skills

YouthBuild

YouthBuild youth participants have been busy restoring and rehabbing homes and apartment buildings in North Minneapolis
Participants are currently working to replace the roof of a home that was affected by the May 22nd tornado

All of our programs provide meaningful experiences for youth and adults, whether they are program participants or volunteers. No matter the season, there is never a dull day at Tree Trust. If you would like further information about any of our programs, please visit our website. For regular updates, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Tornado anniversary

2011-11-23T09:51:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is a bittersweet holiday this year for many of our neighbors in North Minneapolis. Yesterday was the 6-month anniversary of the tornado that devastated a large swath of the city that was already battling poverty and related problems. Six months have passed and many homes still have tarps on roofs and windows to keep out the cold and snow.

A lot of great organizations, government agencies, and individuals have been on the ground providing assistance, but there is much more to be done. As we give thanks this year for all that we have, please don't forget those who are less fortunate. Consider making a donation to help our neighbors this Thanksgiving. The Minnesota Helps - North Minneapolis Recovery Fund supports many organizations in recovery efforts, and there are also many other opportunities to help that may fit your interests.

Tree Trust continues to partner with the City of Minneapolis and others to aid in recovery efforts. Our YouthBuild program has worked to rehab and rebuild homes and apartment buildings in tornado damaged neighborhoods. Our Community Forestry Department has distributed 202 trees so far to residents of North Minneapolis who had their tree canopy devastated by the tornado. YouthBuild and Community Forestry will continue working in the area in the coming year. Visit Tree Trust's website to make a donation or for more information.

If you are a resident of North Minneapolis who was affected by the tornado, the City of Minneapolis established a tornado assistance fund to help homeowners rebuild. If you think you may qualify, visit the tornado recovery page of the City of Minneapolis website for more information on available resources.

National Philanthropy & Give to the Max days

2011-11-18T08:06:00.000-06:00

This week was an important one for fundraising. November 15th was National Philanthropy Day, which is a day to celebrate the contributions that philanthropy has made to our lives, our communities and our world. November 16th was Give to the Max Day in Minnesota. The goal was to raise as much money as possible for nonprofit organizations in 24 hours.

Individual donors are very important to Tree Trust and help us to achieve our mission. Support from donors allows us to provide meaningful opportunities for youth and adults to experience success, learn job skills, boost their self-confidence, and be gainfully employed while improving our local environment.

Young Adult Conservation Corps at Westwood Hills Nature Center

Support from donors also allows us to involve students and community members in tree planting workshops, school tree plantings, and community tree plantings. Students and volunteers have opportunities to learn about trees and the environment, spend time in nature, and work together as a team, all while they improve and green their own communities.

Learning with Trees at Hilltop Primary School

Tree Trust was fortunate to benefit from the generosity of many Minnesotans on Give to the Max Day again this year! Did you miss out on Give to the Max Day? There is plenty of time left to make a donation this year. Visit our website to make a donation to Tree Trust or find other ways to get involved.

Young Adult Conservation Corps recruiting participants

2011-11-10T11:36:00.001-06:00

Tree Trust’s Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) program is recruiting participants for its next session. The program is designed for low-income young adults, ages 18-21, and the upcoming session begins December 6th and lasts three months.

YACC crew building a boardwalk at Westwood Hills Nature Center

Participants are paid minimum wage to start. Their work consists of landscaping and construction work including parks improvement projects, year-round maintenance services along the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority trail system, planting trees and shrubs, and mowing lawns and shoveling snow at foreclosed properties.

Additionally, there is an educational component to the program; participants spend four hours of their 39-hour work week in Tree Trust's classroom. They learn about topics such as: tool safety and operation, employment readiness (resumes, interview skills, etc.), and money management. They are also certified in First Aid and OSHA 10-hour safety.

You can find more information about the program here. If you have additional questions or need more information, please contact Keith Wyne at keithw@treetrust.org or 612-590-3655.

The start date is fast approaching and Tree Trust is excited to connect with enthusiastic applicants.

Tree Trust recruiting schools for Learning with Trees

2011-11-02T14:38:00.000-05:00

Tree Trust is recruiting school partners for this spring’s Learning with Trees program. Learning with Trees helps schools around the state build environmental science programs that involve the creation of outdoor learning areas on their grounds.

Tree Trust provides a combination of trees, shrubs, benches, and bird feeders that are placed on school grounds to fit the school's needs.The program is free of charge and culminates in an all-school planting day where every student plays a role in planting a tree.


Students at Hilltop Primary School on their planting day

Learning with Trees engages teachers, staff, parents and guardians, and volunteers to create Green Teams that develop a landscape plan that will meet the school's environmental and educational goals.

Prior to the school's planting day, Tree Trust brings the Our Town Trees Exhibit, developed in conjunction with the Minnesota Science Museum, to the school. The exhibit includes five interactive modules that teach students the importance of trees to the environment.

On the planting day, Tree Trust staff and volunteers lead groups of students through the entire process of planting a tree. The students are assigned various roles - digger, planter, mulcher, waterer - and trained volunteers and staff make sure they plant their trees properly. Every student gets to help plant.

Following the planting, schools receive a Tree Trunk, which is a duffel bag that includes 20 lessons for grades K-12, as well as outdoor activities and environmental education tools. The lessons cover a variety of subjects including forest management, science, math, social studies, and language arts.

If your school is interested in becoming a partner school, please visit the Learning with Trees program page for more information, or contact Karen Zumach at karenz@treetrust.org or 612-590-2536.

Winter maintenance for trees

2011-10-27T10:46:00.001-05:00

Hungry animals and the extreme weather of Minnesota winters are potential threats to young trees. The following includes a few tips to help prevent some of the damage that can occur in the winter months.

Sun Protection

For fruiting, flowering and thin barked trees (such as maples, honey locusts, basswoods and aspens) it is important to protect the trunks during winter months. Sun scald occurs when the sun heats up the bark to the point in which the tree's tissues are stimulated as they are in warmer seasons in order to grow. However, when the sun goes away, the temperature drops quickly and kills the active tissue. Use a light colored guard such as paper tree wrap or tree tubes. The trunks should be protected from the ground to the first branch. Install the guards in the fall and remove in the spring.

Sun scalded maple

Root Injury & Frost Heaving

Soil temperatures in winter are much higher than air temperatures. Tree roots cannot withstand as cold of temperatures as the rest of the tree. Sandy or dry soil (as in drought years such as this year) hold less heat so frost penetrates more deeply, which can damage the tree's roots. With newly planted trees there can be small spaces in the planting hole backfill that allow cold air to reach the root zone. New trees should be mulched with 6-8 inches of wood chips or straw to insulate the soil around the roots.

Additionally, freezing and thawing of the soil repeatedly in fall or spring causes the ground to expand and contract, which can damage new trees. Mulch is the solution to this problem as well, as it helps to maintain consistent soil temperatures.

Animal Damage

Hungry animals nibble on trees in winter and can cause severe damage. Wrap the trunk with mesh hardware cloth from 2-3 inches below the soil (for mice) to 18-24 inches above the anticipated snow line for rabbits.

Repellants should be used if deer are a problem.These make the tree smell or taste undesirable without harming the animal. Repellants can also be used against rodents.

Employment roundtable led by Congressman Ellison

2011-10-20T14:49:00.000-05:00

Tree Trust will hold a youth job training roundtable on Friday, October 21 which will be led by Congressman Keith Ellison. Ellison represents the 5th district of Minnesota, which includes Minneapolis and 11 surrounding cities.

Tree Trust's Vice President of Programming Norm Champ will serve as host for the event, which will run from 10:00 AM-11:30 AM. The roundtable will be attended by a number of organizations that provide employment services, including HIRED, Resource, Inc., YouthLink, Project for Pride in Living, and others. The event has a closed attendance policy and all attendees were required to RSVP.

The roundtable's agenda includes discussion of the Put America to Work Act and the Emergency Jobs Act Now. Participating employment organizations are on the front lines of the employment crisis, and Ellison is interested in feedback regarding the challenges that they are facing in placing low-, middle-, and high-skilled labor in the current economy.

There will also be discussion of racial disparities in unemployment rates, which is currently particularly relevant for the Twin Cities. The Economic Policy Institute recently released a study showing that the Minneapolis metropolitan area has the largest disparity in employment based on race among the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas. The area's black population is nearly three times more likely to be unemployed than the white population.

The fragility of the economy will also be addressed, as well as nationwide data on challenges to employment.

Trees planted in N. Mpls & around the metro

2011-10-11T12:31:00.001-05:00

It has been a busy fall for Tree Trust's Community Forestry Department. On October 2nd and 3rd staff and 22 volunteers distributed 207 trees to homeowners in North Minneapolis who lost trees in the May 22, 2011 tornado. This distribution was a part of our North Minneapolis Reforest Project (NMRF), which was supported by grants from State Farm Insurance, the Xcel Energy Foundation, and an in-kind donation from Bachman's Nursery.

Tree varieties included Prairiefire Crabapple, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, Northern Hackberry, and Royal Star Magnolia.

Our Young Adult Conservation Corps program was also involved in the North Minneapolis Reforest Project. On October 11th they planted trees for individuals who participated in NMRF but were unable to plant their own trees.

On October 6th, Tree Trust's Community Forestry Manager, Karen Zumach, was awarded the President's Award from the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture (MSA) for her many contributions to community forestry in the Twin Cities. Tree Trust also received the Practitioner's Award of Excellence from MSA for its innovative planting projects with the City of St Louis Park.

Tree Trust had a Green Futures tree planting at Marsh Lake Park in Bloomington on October 8th. We had beautiful weather and were able to involve 33 volunteers in the planting of 44 trees. Varieties included Boulevard Linden, Valley Forge Elm, Swamp White Oak, Prairiefire Crabapple, Autumn Blaze Maple, and Quaking Aspen.

We have one more Green Futures planting this fall on Saturday, October 15th at Musser Park in Sunfish Lake. Sign up to volunteer here, or contact Felecia Schmidt at felecias@treetrust.org or 952-767-3884 for more information.

Tree Trust's last Community Forestry event of the fall will be a Learning with Trees planting on October 17th at Hilltop Primary School in Minnetrista. The Learning with Trees program helps schools around the state build outdoor learning areas on school grounds that include trees, shrubs, and benches. Groups of students are led by Tree Trust staff and volunteers, and every student has the opportunity to be involved in planting a tree.

For more information about our Community Forestry programs, contact Diana Preisen at dianap@treetrust.org or 612-590-1421.

Youth graduate from job program

2011-09-08T10:11:00.001-05:00

Graduates gather with Terry Egge of the Pohlad Family Foundation,
one of the Young Adult Conservation Corp program's funders.

At a youth recognition ceremony last Friday, 11 young adults were presented with certificates of achievement in honor of their personal growth and successful completion of Tree Trust’s Young Adult Conservation Corps program.

Open to youth ages 17 to 21, the Young Adult Conservation Corps program offers paid training and jobs to those who would otherwise have trouble finding work in this difficult economy. For many, this program is their first chance at experiencing success and provides a unique opportunity to reshape their lives.

This summer participants braved extreme heat and rainy days while working in teams to improve local parks, recreation areas and neighborhoods. Projects included building a large boardwalk in Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis Park, and performing lawn maintenance on foreclosed properties in Minneapolis, among many others.

In addition to gaining employment and life skills, participants completed OSHA’s 10-hour safety training, a certification they can take with them to their next job.

When asked about important things they are taking away from their participation in the program, one graduate said, “I learned to step up to the plate when I see something that’s not done.” Others listed better communication skills, a more positive attitude, self-confidence and patience among the things they gained from the program.

While most graduates returned to school this week or started longer-term jobs, several will continue for another three months in an advanced level of the program.

To apply for the program or learn more, contact Keith at 612-590-3655 or keithw@treetrust.org.

Tree Trust replaces trees lost in North Minneapolis tornado

2011-08-25T12:28:00.000-05:00

Tree Trust replaces trees lost in North Minneapolis tornado

Beginning September 1, we will offer 300 trees to homeowners in North Minneapolis who lost trees on their property during the May 22, 2011 tornado. This project, part of our North Minneapolis Reforest Project, is funded by grants from State Farm Insurance and Xcel Energy Foundation, and an in-kind donation from Bachman’s Nursery. Other project partners include the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Homeowners in the area affected by the tornado will have the opportunity to obtain up to two trees per property. Trees may be purchased for $20 each, or homeowners may attend a free, one-hour workshop on proper tree planting and tree care to have the fees waived. Tree Trust will offer three separate workshops in late September. Those who wish to attend a workshop must indicate this at the time of order.

Four species of trees will be available for order. Varieties available are: Prairiefire crabapple, Autumn Brilliance serviceberry, Northern hackberry and Royal Star Magnolia.

Orders will be accepted online (www.treetrust.org/orderhere) and by mail from September 1 through September 15 at 5:00 p.m. Mailed or hand-delivered orders must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 15 at Tree Trust (2231 Edgewood Avenue South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426). Starting September 1, paper order forms can be printed from the website or picked up at Farview Park (621 29th Avenue North) and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters (2117 West River Road) during their normal business hours.

PLEASE NOTE: The ordering website will only be accessible from September 1 through September 15.

Tree pick up will take place on Sunday, October 2 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Monday, October 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board headquarters (2117 West River Road). Trees must be claimed during the pick up or the purchaser will forfeit the tree and money paid. If the purchaser is unable to pick up the tree they are encouraged to make arrangements to have someone else pick up their tree on their behalf. There will be NO REFUNDS for trees that die.

Volunteers will be available at the pick-up location to help load tree(s) and a complimentary bag(s) of mulch. Tree Trust will plant a limited number of trees for those unable to plant their tree. These trees will be planted by Tree Trust staff and trained volunteers during a planting day in early October. Those interested in having their trees planted must indicate this at the time of order.

You can help further our efforts to replace more trees in North Minneapolis by volunteering with us and/or making a tax-deductible donation. (Designate your gift to “Trees for City of Minneapolis”).

For questions about the project, contact Diana Preisen, Community Forest Specialist at Tree Trust, dianap@treetrust.org or 612-590-1421.

In his own words.

2011-08-09T10:21:00.012-05:00

Read this compelling letter written last week by a 17 year-old participant of our Youth Conservation Corps program.

Dear Maple Grove Community,

My name is Evan. In these times of economic instability, I would almost certainly not be employed without Tree Trust. After being referred to the program by one of my teachers at Maple Grove Senior High, I decided to apply to the program, and on the second year, I was accepted. Tree Trust is a program designed to employ high-risk youths and teach them about and prepare them for the expectations of the adult work world. When I went to the job site on my first day of work, I was fairly nervous, wondering what kind of people I would be working for and with, whether or not I would fit in or work to the expectations. As it turned out, these worries were unfounded; my co-workers are, more often than not, kind and respectful, and my crew leader, Jeff, is lighthearted, competent, and tolerant of a lack of experience (that doesn’t mean he lets us slack off, though!).

The first project I worked on was a wood-and-paver grill patio at Hennepin Park. This was important because, at the time, the Fourth of July was fast approaching, and the park was soon to see a great amount of use. It was there that I learned the ropes of the job and got to know the people I was to work with. The next major project I worked on was a wood-and paver staircase at the Elm Creek Park Reserve, which was a necessary replacement for a dangerously slippery mud slope. Not only would the stair case make the park a safer place, but will also give it a maintained, polished look. The staircase may also emphasize the path as an accepted route, rather than bare streak left by park goers looking for a shortcut, which may in turn cause more people to make use of more parts of the park.

To me, this job is admittedly one of the few things I do that are not purely selfish. I cannot be truly satisfied with myself if I act solely in my own favor, and these projects provide me with the sense of achievement and contribution that is, in reality, one of my greatest pleasures. I am not necessarily proud of my work, but that I do work. I care little what I built, but instead that I built. I do hope, however, that what I built does see good use. If what I built is useless, what, then, have I contributed? So, please, feel free to make use of the Tree Trust projects, or the projects of any other such organizations, whenever you wish, for the greatest payment of any worker is to know the difference he has made.

Sincerely,
Evan B.

Shutdown ends. Summer program resumes.

2011-07-22T10:41:00.000-05:00

Three critical things happened this week: a state budget was approved, the government shutdown ended, and we were notified of funding awards for our summer Youth Conservation Corps program. As a result, we have been able to resume most of the summer programming that had been suspended or delayed during the government budget crisis.

We are pleased to have the majority of our youth participants back to work. However we are disappointed by the negative effects of the state budget impasse on the youth we serve. For the hundreds of young people whose jobs were temporarily suspended or cancelled entirely, they lost wages, the opportunity to have a work and character-building experience, and a chance to engage in something positive in their own communities.

We invite you to stop by the remaining work sites at Twin Cities parks and tell our summer crews what their hard work means to your community. For a list of current locations, please contact Tracie at 952.767.3881 or tracieh@treetrust.org.

State shutdown affects Tree Trust

2011-07-14T11:46:00.004-05:00

Youth Conservation Corps
More than 600 youth were scheduled to start their summer jobs with Tree Trust’s Youth Conservation Corps program in June. These youth expected to participate in a nine-week program that would provide them with job skills, wages, and an opportunity to earn high school credits.

However, this plan was interrupted when an agreement on the Minnesota state budget was not reached.

Funding from the state and federal government accounts for approximately 85 percent of what is needed to operate the Youth Conservation Corps program. The lack of an approved state budget, subsequent funding agreements, and the shutdown of several state offices forced Tree Trust to make some difficult decisions.

We have gone to great lengths to minimize expenses and stretch available funding in order to provide a valuable summer work experience for as many youth as possible, and to ensure the completion of critical projects for our partners.

The state government shutdown has negatively impacted 500 of our youth participants who reside in the City of Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin, Dakota and Washington Counties. Here is how youth from specific areas have been affected:

In Hennepin County, 317 youth began working before June 29, but most of their jobs were suspended by July 8. An additional 38 youth were scheduled to begin in June, but their jobs were delayed. If a state budget and adequate funding is not approved by July 27, these positions will not resume this summer. (84 of the Hennepin County youth who began working will continue through the summer, unaffected by the shutdown.)
In Dakota County, 23 youth began working the week of June 20, but were suspended on June 27. An additional 108 jobs were scheduled to begin June 27, but were delayed. A state budget and adequate funding must be reached by July 20 for Dakota County youth to participate this summer.
In Washington County, 48 youth began working the week of June 27, but will be suspended on July 15. If a state budget and adequate funding is not approved by July 27, these youth will not resume working for the duration of the summer.
In Minneapolis, 48 youth began working the week of June 20. If a state budget and adequate funding is not approved by July 15, these positions will be discontinued on July 29 for the remainder of the summer.
At this time, the jobs for 32 St. Paul youth who began working in June have not been affected.

Tree Trust is hopeful the state budget will be resolved soon, and we are communicating with key partners, funders and officials to stay abreast of the situation. Affected youth and their parents have been notified, and we will contact them if a budget is approved and funding becomes available in time to resume programming.

Additional Tree Trust Programs
Like many nonprofits, the state shutdown has temporarily suspended the operation of some of our critical partners, and interrupted access to some government funds that have already been committed to our organization.

Tree Trust has been developing plans to minimize the impact on our operations if the state fails to reach a budget agreement in the coming months.

We remain committed to the individuals and communities we serve, and will continue to creatively and strategically guide the organization through this difficult time.

We could not make this commitment without the dedicated volunteers and donors who help to support our work. We ask that you continue to support Tree Trust in any way you can.

Minnesota Helps – Tornado Recovery Fund grant awarded

2011-06-24T10:59:00.000-05:00

The Minneapolis Foundation and Greater Twin Cities United Way announced yesterday that Tree Trust was awarded one of 13 grants given to organizations that are assisting North Minneapolis residents affected by the May 22 tornado.

The $24,152 grant will allow Tree Trust to provide full-time employment for the rest of the summer for six recent graduates of its YouthBuild program. Without this grant their participation in the program would have ended on June 30.

“Organizations serving youth were among our funding priorities,” said Frank Forsberg, senior vice president of Community Impact, Greater Twin Cities United Way.

The six YouthBuild participants are residents of North Minneapolis, and will spend the summer repairing and rehabbing up to 33 homes and rental units in North Minneapolis neighborhoods. While they earn wages and sharpen their skills, they’ll provide ownership and rental opportunities for families who have been displaced from their homes or apartments from the tornado.

The 13 grants announced June 23 are the first to be awarded through an ongoing process by which nonprofits and public agencies providing services to North Minneapolis residents affected by the tornado are invited to request support from the Fund. Grant funds were raised through the Minnesota Helps – North Minneapolis Recovery Fund, established by The Minneapolis Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, and GiveMN.org. More than $1.3 million has been raised so far from community donations and matching grants.

For more information about Tree Trust’s involvement in the North Minneapolis recovery efforts, please contact Tracie at 952.767.3881 or tracieh@treetrust.org.

State budget crisis delays summer program

2011-06-23T16:04:00.000-05:00

On June 20, more than 450 youth started their summer jobs with Tree Trust’s Youth Conservation Corps program. However, the lack of an approved state budget and subsequent funding for this program caused the suspension of 270 jobs and the delay of 135 additional youth jobs that were scheduled to start within the next two weeks.

Those affected reside in suburban Hennepin and Dakota Counties.

At this time Tree Trust cannot predict when these youth will begin or resume work, since positions are dependent upon the state’s budget. Funding from state and federal government accounts for more than 85 percent of what is needed to operate the Youth Conservation Corps program.

Tree Trust is hopeful the state budget will be resolved soon, and that the program will run at the level intended for the 2011 summer. Tree Trust is committed to the youth and communities served by this program, and is communicating with key partners, funders and officials to stay abreast of the situation.

Affected youth and their parents have been notified, and will be contacted about their participation in the program as soon as the state’s budget crisis is resolved and Tree Trust receives word of funding for this program.

Please contact Felecia at 952.767.3884 or Paula at 952.767.3883 with questions.

Remembering a friend of Tree Trust

2011-05-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

In early 2008, the pocket park on 8th Avenue and Washburn in north Minneapolis was not a welcoming, family-friendly green space where neighbors came to play or gather. So in the summer of 2008, Tree Trust starting working on a project to transform the park into something the neighborhood could be proud of.

We quickly met Rob MacIntyre, a handy guy with a big heart who lived near the park. Rob had been watching the Tree Trust youth crew who had been removing debris and rebuilding the decaying retaining wall, and he offered to lend a hand…and tools, and equipment, and humor, and...

Over the next two years Rob got several of his neighbors involved in the neighborhood improvements and worked alongside our youth crews, many who lived in the area, to plant trees, create gardens and transform the area.

We were saddened to learn about Rob’s passing after Sunday’s tornado, and we look forward to soon restoring the damaged parts of the green projects Rob helped us complete.

We have a special place in our hearts for Rob. Any donations made in his memory will be used to help involve the community and Tree Trust’s youth crews in replanting efforts in north Minneapolis.

Help replace trees lost in the storm

2011-05-24T13:01:00.000-05:00

The damage caused by the storm on Sunday, May 22 was so extensive that President Obama has pledged to send aid to the Twin Cities to help us rebuild. Tree Trust is joining the effort by helping to replant trees in the metro, including Minneapolis and other cities hit the hardest.

You can help. Make a donation to our Green Futures fund to support our reforestation efforts. Every donation made to Green Futures will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a local family foundation, stretching your donation even further.

Donations are 100% tax-deductible, and will be turned into trees that are planted during community events in public parks this fall. The more money raised, the more trees we can plant.

Make a donation to Green Futures today, and actively participate in replanting the Twin Cities.

Tree Trust’s YouthBuild awarded three-year grant from Department of Labor

2011-05-19T11:54:00.000-05:00

The U.S. Department of Labor announced an award of $772,869 to Tree Trust to continue its YouthBuild program through 2014. Tree Trust is one of only 76 agencies funded nationwide; one of only two in Minnesota.

YouthBuild prepares out-of-school youth for careers through hands-on construction training, and high school completion or General Educational Development programs. Since Tree Trust began operating its YouthBuild program in 2006, nearly 100 young people have participated in their program.

YouthBuild participants include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and others. In addition to receiving academic and occupational skills training, young people develop leadership skills and participate in community service opportunities. Tree Trust’s YouthBuild program serves Minneapolis youth ages 17-21.

“Every day in America, 7,000 students drop out of high school,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis in a statement. “Our nation cannot afford to lose these young people. YouthBuild provides an important second chance to earn an education while also developing valuable skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

“The funding available nationally this time was less than half of what was available last round, so it is especially satisfying to secure this grant,” said Susan Gethin, Tree Trust’s CEO. “I believe the award reflects the strength of our current program.”

Minneapolis City Trees distribution details

2011-05-17T09:31:00.003-05:00

Here are the details for the Minneapolis property owners who were lucky enough to score one of the 1500 trees for sale through the Minneapolis City Trees sale.

Pick-up times:
Saturday, May 21
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Sunday, May 22
8 a.m. – noon

Monday, May 23
3 – 7 p.m.

Location:
Minneapolis Impound Lot
51 Colfax Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55405

You will forfeit your tree and the money you paid for it, should you not be able to pick up your trees on the dates specified. You can certainly make arrangements for someone else to pick up your tree, should you be unavailable. If you wish to pick out the tree you believe is the best of the bunch, trees are first come first serve; we do not hold trees for individuals.

Trees will be anywhere from 4-8’ tall. All of these trees are containerized (in a plastic pot). Burlap will be provided for wrapping your tree to protect it on the way home.

For more information on planting your tree, click here. Planting and tree care information as well as species specific information will be provided for you when you pick-up your tree.

We are still in need of volunteers for this event. You can help re-leaf the city by loading residents' new trees and bags of mulch into their vehicles at our upcoming tree distribution. This is a great event for individuals, families, and small groups. Lifting is required, but partnering up makes it easy. Tree Trust staff will provide a brief training and be present throughout the day to answer any questions. To register to volunteer or to learn more email amandag@treetrust.org or call 952-767-3882.

Lakewinds Natural Foods Supports Tree Trust

2011-04-25T15:57:00.001-05:00

Now through June 30, proceeds from Lakewinds Natural Foods’ Patch the Planet program will support Tree Trust’s trail maintenance, tree plantings and park improvement projects in the west metro.

The Patch the Planet program rewards shoppers who reuse cloth, paper or plastic bags for their groceries. When they reuse a bag, customers earn a green patch. Customers can apply the green patch towards their next purchase, or donate the patch to an environmental cause. From April to June, all donations will go to Tree Trust.

Do you live near the Minnetonka or Chanhassen Lakewinds Natural Foods store? Stop into this community-conscious market and support Tree Trust – don’t forget your reusable bags!

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T09:21:00.002-05:00

Friday, April 22 is Earth Day, a day that inspires and mobilizes people around the world to to protect and preserve the Earth’s natural environment.
You’ve probably heard the expression, “Earth Day is every day!” And that’s especially true at Tree Trust.

Every day, for 35 years, we have worked in partnership with youth and adults to improve the local environment and transform their lives. We still do this today, because we believe there is a need — now more than ever — to connect people with one another and the natural world.

As we celebrate our 35th anniversary, we’re proud of our impact on the Twin Cities.

We’ve involved 13,000 volunteers in the planting and distribution of 76,000 trees and 380,000 seedlings, shrubs and plants.

We’ve educated 105,000 students on the importance of protecting and preserving the environment.

We’ve helped 42,000 youth and adults gain job skills and self-confidence while leaving a lasting, positive impact in their own communities.

What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day? How about getting involved with us? Volunteer to plant trees this spring or make a donation to support our work.

In observance of Earth Day, we hope you'll come together around our common environmental cause: trees for the Twin Cities. Whether you volunteer, donate, or spread the word, your support makes our community that much greener.

Funding for youth programs in jeopardy.

2011-04-18T11:45:00.000-05:00

For 35 years our summer Youth Conservation Corps program has helped thousands of Twin Cities youth build self-confidence and make a lasting difference in their own communities.

As we prepare for our 2011 program, we are reminded of the significance of this program. So far this year, we have received nearly 1,000 applications, demonstrating the program’s importance.

Our summer program exists because of State and Federal funding. This funding from the government accounts for more than 85% of what we need to operate the program. The more money we receive, the more youth we can serve.

As you may know, the State Legislature and Governor are faced with a large deficit as they work out this year’s budget. One item on the chopping block: the Minnesota Youth Program, one of the critical sources of funding for our summer program.

We have already reduced the size of this program because of cuts in Federal funding. If Minnesota Youth Program funding is cut, it will reduce the number of youth we can serve even more.

You can help.

Contact your local representative today. Ask him/her to keep the Minnesota Youth Program in the 2011 budget at the same level as in 2010.

To find your representative, visit http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder.aspx or call Felecia at 952-767-3884.

Tree Trust volunteer wins award

2011-03-02T11:06:00.001-06:00

Giampaolo Malin was selected as a HandsOn Twin Cities "Be the Change" award winner for his enviromental work in 2010. Because Giampaolo was selected for this award, Tree Trust recieved a $250 donation in his honor. Governor Mark Dayton presented the award to Giampaolo at the Mall of America on Saturday, Feb. 19. Governor Dayton recognized four exemplary volunteers by presenting HandsOn Twin Cities' Be the Change Awards, which honor individuals who have dedicated themselves to bettering their communities.

In 2010 and 2009, Giampaolo gave more of his time to Tree Trust than any other volunteer. He volunteered at nearly every Community Forestry event in 2010, from serving as a Tree Trainer at plantings to attending Weeding Wednesdays. He has an inspiring commitment to the environment and to an overall ethic of civic responsibility, and we at Tree Trust are so grateful for his hard work and dedication.

Read more about Giampaolo.

Tree Trust open house a success

2011-02-25T15:30:00.001-06:00

On Thursday, February 24, 2011, Tree Trust held an open house at its new facility in St. Louis Park. The well-attended event gave stakeholders an opportunity to tour the new offices, training room, computer lab and warehouse, and meet Tree Trust staff and board members.

While enjoying the food and drinks, attendees were treated to a slideshow that celebrated Tree Trust’s impact on the Twin Cities over the past 35 years. Rolf Svendsen, board chair and co-founder of Tree Trust, and Susan Gethin, chief executive officer, gave attendees a look into what the future holds for Tree Trust. “We wouldn’t have made it this far if it hadn’t been for our many partners, and we are excited about what we’ll do together in the future.”

Thanks to everyone who attended and made the night a success!

2011 Tree Sales

2011-02-03T09:16:00.015-06:00

Once again this year, Tree Trust is partnering with both the city of St. Louis Park and the city of Minneapolis to provide low-cost trees to their residents. These programs have been very well received in the past and have added over 6,000 trees to the urban forest between the two cities over the past six years. These programs are a fabulous way for cities to increase their canopy cover without increasing their maintenance costs as trees for both programs must be planted on private property.

St. Louis Park Tree Sale
• Ordering began February 22. This tree sale is now SOLD OUT.
• All trees will be containerized stock, approximately six to eight feet tall and one inch in trunk diameter.
• Limit of three trees per St. Louis Park address.
• Pick up date is May 7 from 8 a.m. until noon.
The following trees are available at the St. Louis Park Tree Sale for $35 each
•Ironwood - SOLD OUT
•Japanese Tree Lilac - SOLD OUT
•Prairifire Crabapple - SOLD OUT
•Northern Hackberry - SOLD OUT
•Austrian Pine - SOLD OUT
•Northern Red Oak - SOLD OUT
•Frontyard Linden - SOLD OUT

Minneapolis Tree Sale also known as the City Trees Program
• Ordering starts on Monday, March 14, at http://treetrust.org/order. This tree sale is now SOLD OUT.
• This program is limited to one tree per Minneapolis address.
• New to the program this year is the ability for business owners and nonprofits to participate along with residents.
• The pickup dates for this program are May 21-23 at the City of Minneapolis Impound Lot.
The following trees are available at the Minneapolis Tree Sale for $25 each
•Maple 'Sienna Glen' - SOLD OUT
•Oak 'Regal Prince' - SOLD OUT
•Kentucky Coffeetree - SOLD OUT
•Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance' - SOLD OUT
•Redbud (MN Strain) - SOLD OUT
•Apple 'Honeycrisp' - SOLD OUT
•Blue Beech - SOLD OUT
•Juniper 'Welchii'

For both programs, you will forfeit your tree and the money you paid for it, should you not be able to pick up your trees on the dates specified. You can certainly make arrangements for someone else to pick up your tree, should you be unavailable.

Trees are good. They clean our air, mitigate stormwater runoff, provide habitat for wildlife and even increase property values. Mark your calendar and be sure to order a tree this spring!

Trees are available on a first come first served basis and quantities are limited.

For questions, please contact Karen Zumach, Community Forestry Manager at 612.590.2536.

Tree Trust's 2010 results

2011-01-25T11:53:00.002-06:00

In 2010, we directly served 4,816 people through our programs. 67% of those served were under age 18, 56% were female, and 64% of participants in our employment training and case management programs represent ethnic minorities.

This past year we engaged 432 citizens who volunteered 1,454 hours with our Community Forestry program. These volunteers distributed 1,453 reduced-cost trees to homeowners, and planted 464 trees and 402 shrubs throughout the Twin Cities. An additional 21 ,volunteers provided 99 hours of administrative assistance.

Our Learning with Trees program involved 2,119 students in the creation of outdoor classrooms on the grounds of three Twin Cities elementary schools.

Our Community Support Program matched 816 parents with employment experiences at 169 host sites throughout the metro. 97% of participants who earned wages while participating reported they gained positive work experience and would recommend the program to others.

466 youth received individualized case management services and support through our Youth Development Services program; of these youth, 143 were also placed in internships. 82% of participants who exited the program in 2010 reported they have more confidence in their ability to find and keep a job as a result of being in the program.

Our summer Youth Conservation Corps program employed 889 youth who worked more than 90,000 hours and earned more than $700,000. 94% of participants who responded to surveys reported learning important skills that will help in future jobs.

87 youth completed community improvement projects while participating in our Young Adult Conservation Corps paid job training program. 92% who responded to exit surveys said their future employment opportunities were expanded; 84% said we helped them reach their employment goals.

Our YouthBuild program provided 37 young adults with paid job training and academic enrichment while they rehabbed three Minneapolis homes that will be sold to low-income first-time homebuyers. 100% of exited participants completed OSHA-10 safety training; 94% earned a high school diploma or GED, or returned to school to earn a diploma or GED.

Despite the struggling economy, Landscape Services, our earned-income venture, increased revenue from private sources significantly in 2010, proving to be a sustainable source of income to help to support our programs.

Tree Trust celebrates 35 years

2010-12-30T12:48:00.000-06:00

Thirty-five years ago Donald Willeke and G. Rolf Svendsen had two dreams: to reforest the Twin Cities after the devastation caused by Dutch elm disease, and to give training and jobs to the many youth and young adults who were out of work. And so began the Twin Cities Tree Trust (now Tree Trust).

That first year we established tree nurseries in Plymouth, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove and Eagan, and we put 1,450 people to work on improvement projects throughout the metro area. They replaced diseased elm trees with healthy, new trees. They built boardwalks, maintained trails, and made our parks and recreation areas more beautiful and accessible.

Over the next fifteen years Tree Trust continued to combine job training with community forestry work, making lasting environmental improvements and helping thousands of disadvantaged youth and adults reshape their lives.

In 1992 we added our Learning with Trees environmental education program, and over the next ten years received national awards for our environmental and job training efforts.

Tree Trust expanded rapidly at the start of the new millennium. We added the Community Support Program in 2000. We dropped the “Twin Cities” from our name in 2003 and officially became Tree Trust. In 2004 we took a proactive approach to creating a more financially sound future by launching Landscape Services, our earned income venture. And over the next six years we adopted a new agency logo, added more programs (YouthBuild and Youth Development Services), expanded our existing programs, and involved significantly more volunteers in our community work.

In 2011, as we celebrate 35 years of service to the Twin Cities, we are bringing our programs and services that currently operate out of four separate locations into one building. We are so proud of what we’ve done in 35 years, and look forward to what we’ll accomplish – with the help of the community – over the next 35 years.

Watch a timeline of our 35 years.

Tree Trust youth featured in Minnesota Youth Program report

2010-12-09T12:11:00.000-06:00

The MN Department of Employment and Economic Development – Minnesota Youth Program has supported our Youth Conservation Corps program for many years. The 2010 Minnesota Youth Program report was recently published and features many Tree Trust youth success stories. You’ll find these profiles on pages 21 – 24, 29 and 34. Click here to read the report.

Tree Trust is moving!

2010-11-30T09:00:00.004-06:00

Tree Trust is excited to announce its move to a new facility! Currently, Tree Trust operates out of four facilities located throughout the metro, in St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis and Eagan. By combining these facilities into one location Tree Trust will be saving time, money and energy.

The new Tree Trust facility will be located at 2231 Edgewood Avenue South, in Saint Louis Park. This facility will fulfill the needs of Tree Trust with pleasant office space, great training room, large garage/warehouse space and ample outdoor secured space.

Tree Trust will begin its move the first week of January. We apologize in advance for any difficulties reaching our staff during this time and thank you for your understanding and patience.

Give to the Max Day is a success!

2010-11-17T09:31:00.000-06:00

The Give to the Max Day results are in... on November 16, Tree Trust raised $15,690 through GiveMN.org. Thank you to the 94 donors that participated in Give to the Max Day. Together these donors have helped us make positive, lasting changes in the community.

Did you miss out on Give to the Max Day, but still wish to make a donation? It’s not too late to make your tax-deductible gift for 2010, just click here to make your donation online or mail your check to Tree Trust at 2350 Wycliff St., Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55114-1331.

For more questions about giving a donation, contact Tracie Huhn at tracieh@treetrust.org or 651-644-5800.

Give to the Max Day returns!

2010-11-10T14:16:00.010-06:00

It’s back! Give to the Max Day is returning again this year. Give to the Max Day is a day for Minnesotans to come together to raise as much money as possible for nonprofits in 24 hours – starting at midnight (12am) on November 16.

This year, GiveMN is offering incentives to help encourage giving:

A $20,000 and $10,000 prize grant will be awarded to the top two nonprofits that attract the largest number of individual donors on Give to the Max Day.
Throughout the event, an individual donor will be randomly chosen every hour to have an additional $1,000 given to the charity that received the donor's original donation.

In addition to GiveMN’s incentives, Tree Trust’s CEO and Board of Directors have offered a dollar-for-dollar match up to $7,500 for donations to Tree Trust on Give to the Max Day!

Last year on Give to the Max Day, Tree Trust was thrilled to receive more than $14,000 in donations.

This year we aim to raise more than we did last year. Will you help us reach our goal on November 16? Click here to visit Tree Trust's GiveMN page to make a donation.

Life after summer

2010-10-28T12:02:00.003-05:00

We often refer to the summer as our busy time of year; and no doubt it is a busy time for Tree Trust. But for many Tree Trust programs, fall marks the time when we take a deep breath and get ready for what we’re about to take on during the school year.

Community Forestry
Community Forestry has always been a part of Tree Trust, and over the years we’ve given people easy ways to improve the local environment and become more enlightened about their own ability to make a (green) difference.

This fall the Community Forestry Manager, Karen, is busy facilitating our fall planting events (five this year!), working with three Learning with Trees schools, and gearing up for what we expect will be another busy spring community planting season. “It’s always nice to think about how many people we’ve educated and involved, and the difference it makes for everyone,” says Karen.

Youth Development Services
In 2007, we expanded our case management services to help young people complete their education, and get them ready for college or to move into a career after graduation. While our case managers will serve over 400 youth this school year, they will carry slightly smaller caseloads than last year “to provide more intensive services to those who have the greatest need,” said Paula, the Case Management Coordinator.

Reaching those most in need – like kids who are aging out of the foster system – means being more creative with recruitment. This year they’re working with police departments, alternative schools and other non-traditional groups to find “those kids who have difficulty getting involved in the community.”

YouthBuild
In 2006 we added YouthBuild to our menu of job training programs for at-risk youth. While alternating weeks between school and a home site, YouthBuilders focus on completing their education and preparing for a successful transition into college or career.

Staff recently ramped up recruitment efforts to start this program year with “youth who are truly dedicated to the mission of YouthBuild and are committed to education,” said Norm, the Vice President of Programming. We had 120 individuals apply this summer. Of those applicants, 96 eligible youth started a series of screenings in September – interviews, orientation, “mental toughness week” – to narrow it down to 20 young people who officially became YouthBuilders on October 11.

Young Adult Conservation Corp
This school year the program will operate four, five-person crews during each three-month cohort. Participants will start in entry level, gaining job skills and learning life lessons along the way. Some participants will continue for another three months in the advanced level, and a couple lucky advanced graduates will land a three-month internship position.

This year we’re securing more meaningful projects that will instill a greater sense of pride in the work participants are doing in their own communities. For example, a crew recently planted trees and installed edging and sod at a North Minneapolis church just a few blocks from where several crew members lived, helping to complete a two-week Community Forestry project. They are also placing more emphasis on general job readiness this year. Keith, a Case Manager, is strengthening partnerships to allow use of computer labs and may facilitate “job search trainings for the wider community” this spring.

Community Support Program
Our placement coordinators work year-round with parents who are recipients of the Minnesota Family Investment Program. We place them in paid and unpaid positions at 300 partner job sites and help them transition back into the workforce.

This year the program is forming partnerships that provide a more comprehensive continuum of services. For example, we’re connecting with HIRED’s Fresh Start program to join its 12-week classes with our job placements for people who are transitioning out of prison. Our placement counselors are also taking on slightly smaller case loads in order to provide more check-ins and follow-up services.

Jessica, our Community Support Program Coordinator, explained, “While there’s value to providing more opportunities to people, we’re finding better results by providing more individualized, one-on-one services.”

Landscape Services
It’s been six years since Landscape Services was created, and we’ve learned a lot about business along the way. Although it no longer provides hands-on training for job trainees, it does support all of our programs by earning income and helping to keep Tree Trust financially stable.

Despite the tough economy, business for Jared, our Director of Operations and Landscape Services, and his crew has been great. The summer brought renewed residential and commercial landscape contracts. “We’ve increased earned income from private sources significantly this year,” reported Jared. To continue that trend, they’re working on renewing contracts for snow removal, pursuing new areas (namely stream bank and lakeshore restoration), and developing a marketing plan to reach out to private homeowners more directly and not rely so heavily on referrals.

So, what happens with our Youth Conservation Corps program postsummer? Felecia, our Youth Conservation Corps Coordinator, and the rest of the team may not be working directly with youth, but they are hard at work evaluating the 2010 summer, completing reports, making adjustments and creating partnerships and projects for next year.

Green Futures for Inver Grove Heights

2010-10-18T13:24:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, October 16, Tree Trust gave 46 community volunteers the tools and training they needed to plant 80 trees in Inver Grove Height’s Rich Valley Athletic Complex as part of Tree Trust’s Green Futures initiative. Mayor George Tourville was present to thank volunteers and educate attendees about Inver Grove Heights’ forestry efforts.

Rich Valley Athletic Complex, a 75-acre park, serves as a major sports complex for Inver Grove Height’s 30,000 residents. Of the park's 700 trees, 100 are ash trees that are threatened by the recent arrival of emerald ash borer to the Twin Cities metro area. This planting pre-forested the park and prevented the loss of shade, wind breaks and other benefits trees bring to the park. Trees planted included Kentucky coffee, hackberry, gingko, red maple and more.

View photos from the planting on Flickr.

Local businesses help schools in 2010-2011

2010-10-15T11:09:00.003-05:00

Generous grants from the Xcel Energy Foundation and Covanta Energy will allow two schools to participate in Tree Trust’s Learning with Trees program during the 2010-2011 school year.

This fall/winter Somerset Elementary School (Mendota Heights, MN) and Nellie Stone Johnson Community School (Minneapolis, MN) will work with Community Forestry Manager Karen Zumach to form green teams of teachers, parents and school administrators. Over the course of the next several months the green teams will identify ways to transform their existing grounds into living laboratories that provide hands-on learning experiences for their students, and also provide natural environmental benefits to the local community.

In the spring each school will participate in Tree Trust’s interactive Our Town Trees exhibit, where students will learn about the benefits of trees and build a conceptual framework for the students’ planting experience at all-school events that will occur near the end of the school year. During the events, Tree Trust’s trained volunteers will lead groups of students through the entire process of planting trees. The students will be assigned various roles - digger, planter, mulcher, waterer - and make each green teams’ landscape plans a reality.

Teachers from each school will also be provided with a “tree trunk” of lesson plans and tools to use with students to incorporate environmental education both inside the classroom and in their new outdoor learning area.

Thanks to our sponsors – Xcel Energy Foundation and Covanta Energy- for helping us bring Learning with Trees to two new schools!

Beautifying north Minneapolis

2010-10-14T10:33:00.006-05:00

More than 40 volunteers came together to beautify their corner of north Minneapolis on Tuesday and Wednesday Oct. 12 – 13. These volunteers planted more than 430 shrubs and perennials along the new parking lot of St. Anne’s and St. Joseph Hien church. Twenty school children from Bright Water Montessori School also gave a hand by planting wild grasses and watering freshly planted trees and plants.

What was once a row of run-down, crime-infested homes, is now a newly-beautified parking lot that will serve the parishioners of St. Anne’s and St. Joseph Hien for years to come. Thanks to the Pohlad Family Foundation for helping to fund this project.

View more photos from the planting.

Tree Trust and Xcel Energy Foundation improve Burnsville park

2010-10-11T19:08:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, Oct. 9, Tree Trust gave 20 community volunteers the tools and training they needed to plant 38 trees in Burnsville’s Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve. Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz attended the planting to support volunteers and teach them about the Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve.

Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve is a 75-acre park that offers a walking trail for Burnsville’s 60,000 residents. It had been a goal of the city’s to line the walking path with trees and thanks to a grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation the goal was finally realized. The grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation was awarded to Tree Trust’s Community Forestry program. Trees planted included Swamp White Oak, disease resistant elm, River Birch, hackberry and Bur Oak.

View photos from this planting on Flickr.

Revitalizing Anoka County’s Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park

2010-09-28T13:19:00.005-05:00

On Saturday, September 25, Tree Trust gave 20 community volunteers the tools and training they needed to plant 30 trees in Anoka County’s Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park.

Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park is one of Anoka County’s most popular parks, offering year-round recreation activities. Like others throughout Minnesota, this 446-acre park has lost a number of trees over the years to Dutch elm disease.

Thanks to a $5,000 grant from Connexus Energy that was awarded to Tree Trust’s Community Forestry program, the community planting event on September 25 helped replace lost trees and revitalize the park. Trees planted in Anoka County’s Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park included hackberry, bur oak, American basswood, Kentucky coffee and autumn blaze maple.

Learning with Trees

2010-09-23T09:19:00.001-05:00

Last Friday, more than 620 students helped to plant 25 trees and shrubs, plant 100 bulbs and beautify the gardens at Meadowbrook Elementary through the Learning with Trees program. CenterPoint Energy funded this planting and its employees took an active role helping Meadowbrook Elementary students improve their natural environment.

“We are proud of our long standing partnership with Tree Trust,” said Doug Peterson, director of marketing for CenterPoint Energy and Tree Trust board member. “We are pleased that Meadowbrook Elementary has a new and beautiful outdoor landscape for students and teachers to enjoy while improving our communities’ natural environment.”

Joelle, a member of the Green Team at Meadowbrook Elementary wrote:
“Tree Trust is such an impressive machine with this program -- what an opportunity to have every single kid in the school having a part in planting a tree.

I heard lots of wonderful comments from students (e.g. the 2nd grader who promised he'd take good care of "Hacky" -- what they named the hackberry tree they planted, the 3rd grader who talked about bringing his parents back to see his tree, etc.), the parents who couldn't believe all wonderful varieties that we planted today. We all learned lots from the knowledgeable Tree Trust staff and volunteers!"

Thank you to the CenterPoint Energy and Tree Trust volunteers who helped make this happen!

Tree Trust's first commercial

2010-08-30T20:02:00.000-05:00

This month Tree Trust shot its very first commercial -- well, really its a public service announcement (PSA), but calling it a commercial is a lot more fun!

You can view our new PSA on YouTube and Vimeo. It will also air periodically on CTV15 and its sister stations.

Thanks to the generosity of CTV15, who provided consultation and production as an in-kind donation to Tree Trust, we now have our 30 seconds of fame.

Special thanks to Kevin Schmitz from CTV15, who worked patiently with us over the past few months to get it just right. And extra special thanks to our cast -- Felecia, Kyler, Sam, Giampaolo and Kristine -- for lending us their time and talent on the set.

Let us know what you think. And feel free to share it with others!

Tree Trust teams up with St. Louis Park

2010-08-18T12:19:00.006-05:00

Tree Trust has partnered with the City of St. Louis Park since our inception. But now we’re taking our relationship to a whole new level.

We’ve partnered with the City to add 2,000 well-established trees to St. Louis Park over the next four years. The St. Louis Park Reforest Project is part of an overall effort to reforest the city after the loss of trees to Dutch elm disease, and to pre-forest the city before emerald ash borer wipes out many more.

Our three-pronged approach involves:

1. Tree distributions. Each year Tree Trust will sell trees at a low cost to St. Louis Park residents. They’ll learn how to properly plant and maintain them in their own yards.

2. Community tree plantings. Tree Trust will facilitate an annual planting event in a city park. Residents will help plant trees and the city will take care of them. Trees will be paid for by donations from St. Louis Park citizens that are matched by the City of St. Louis Park!

3. Youth crew plantings. The City of St. Louis Park will hire our youth crews to plant trees in public spaces throughout the city. That sure beats busting buckthorn!

Kick-off Fundraiser

On September 19, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the Park Tavern Bowling and Entertainment Center will host an event to celebrate 30 years in St. Louis Park. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Tree Trust in support of the Reforest Project.

You are invited! Have a good time and support a great cause. More details about the event will be available soon. Contact Tracie at tracieh@treetrust.org with questions.

UPDATE: The Park Tavern’s 30th Anniversary Celebration (and the City of St. Louis Park’s match) raised $3,850 for our St. Louis Park Reforest Project! What a great start for this special partnership!
Thanks to all who came out support the cause.

To Plant a Tree

2010-08-05T18:25:00.000-05:00

This insightful poem was written by one of our wonderful volunteers, Jim Nelson. He shared this with a group of tree planting volunteers during our special “Plant a Wish” event along the Midtown Greenway on June 2, 2010.

Jim is a Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor, Tree Inspector, and friend of Tree Trust. With Jim’s permission, we share this with the rest of you.

To Plant a Tree

To plant a tree is to begin a project
that may outlive me and my children.

To plant a tree is to make a small part of the earth
a new and better place.

To plant a tree whose crown may never shade me
is to care for neighbors and others.

To plant a tree is to give color and form
to dreams of a better world for all.

New CEO for Tree Trust

2010-08-02T11:41:00.000-05:00

Tree Trust’s board of directors has been engaged in a search for a chief executive officer since February, following the passing of Dave Hawes. Although we wish it were under different circumstances, we are pleased to announce that today, Susan Gethin joins us.

Meet Susan…

After a long career in the corporate world, Susan wanted to contribute more directly to the community by focusing her skills and talents in the nonprofit arena.

Susan spent the past five years as V.P of Corporate Communications for Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Prior to that she was V.P. of U.S. Retail Communications for American Express Financial Advisors, and she put her B.A. in Political Science to work in the world of politics.

With her passion for the environment and expertise in communications, leadership, strategic planning and executive management, Tree Trust is a perfect fit.

Welcome Susan!

Twin Cities recognized for volunteerism

2010-07-27T11:26:00.000-05:00

The Twin Cities has a lot to be proud of. We’re famous for our abundance of lakes. I’m pretty sure no other state makes as mean a hot dish as we do. We were recently named the Best Bike City by Bicycling magazine. And last month Minneapolis and St. Paul were ranked among the top five large cities in the U.S. for volunteering rates!

The most recent Volunteering in America report issued by the Corporation for National & Community Service shows that volunteering is on the rise throughout the nation. This is great news! In 2009 more than 63 million Americans volunteered – that’s an increase of almost 1.6 million over the previous year. Their volunteer service was valued at more than $169 billion, resulting in huge savings for nonprofits.

In 2009, over 500 volunteers joined Tree Trust to plant trees, maintain trails and make our community greener. This year, even more people are getting involved.

Want to join the millions of Americans who give back to their communities? Find out how you can make a difference by volunteering with Tree Trust!

Jobs for teens

2010-07-21T13:34:00.000-05:00

This year Tree Trust received over 2,200 applications from qualified, eligible young people for the 900 jobs available through our Youth Conservation Corps summer employment training program. A tough economy has led to a consistent increase in requests for this program in recent years.

Northwest Community Television (Channel 12) was pretty impressed with how Tree Trust has remained a consistent source of paid job training for Twin Cities youth for nearly 35 years, and they recently visited one of our crews, located at French Regional Park in Plymouth, to learn more about us.

Check out the story that aired on July 20, 2010 on their Local News/Community Corner.

Tree Trust crews throughout the Twin Cities

2010-07-09T09:41:00.005-05:00

Tree Trust’s Youth Conservation Corps completes its fourth week today – they’re nearly ½ of the way through this summer’s program! Check out these photos that highlight what some of our outdoor crews are doing in your neck of the woods.

If there’s a Tree Trust crew in your area, stop by, see what they’re up to, and thank them for their hard work! We currently have crews working in:

Minneapolis
Theodore Wirth Golf Course
Trail near 37th and University
Midtown Greenway

St. Paul
Crosby Farm Park
Phalen Recreation Center

Suburban Carver County
Lake Minnewashta Regional Park
Lake Minnetonka Regional Park

Suburban Dakota County
C.P. Adams Park
Orchard Lake Beach
Scott Park
North Valley Park
Suburban Hennepin County
Brookview Golf Course
Westwood Hills Nature Center
Clifton E. French Regional Park
Brooklyn Center Arboretum/Kylawn Park
Brooklyn Center City Hall
Minnetonka Ice Arena
Rosland Park
Richardson Nature Center
Plymouth Creek Park
Elm Creek Park Reserve
Richard T. Anderson Nature Area
LRT Trail near Guillian’s Park

Suburban Washington County
Carver Lake Park
Lamar Fields
Hamlet Park
Square Lake Regional Park

Youth hard at work in May Township, MN

2010-07-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

Last month we announced the start of our 2010 summer Youth Conservation Corps program. Nearly 900 youth are hard at work in the Twin Cities. Many of them are working outside - rain or shine - to improve the parks and recreation areas we love to visit when Mother Nature permits.

And local media are taking notice! Check out what the Stillwater Gazette - St. Croix Valley Local News had to say on June 21 and again on June 29 about our crew in Square Lake Regional Park , located in May Township, MN (Washington County). These young people are really making a difference!

Launching the 2010 Youth Conservation Corps

2010-06-23T09:12:00.000-05:00

June 14, 2010 marked the official start of Tree Trust's Youth Conservation Corps, an employment training program that puts youth to work for nine weeks, June through August. We're proud to say that this summer we'll provide paid jobs and training to approximately 900 young people, many of whom may have otherwise spent the summer on the couch or at their computer desk (or worse).

First jobs can be a major challenge. When we asked you about your first job (through a survey in our last newsletter), the only aspects everyone reported liking or loving were location and co-workers. Less popular aspects? Pay (too low!), boss, and rules. Rules can certainly be tricky, especially when you don't know what to expect.

Luckily, we've designed our Youth Conservation Corps program to provide a supportive but realistic work environment that allows for second chances and encourages growth. By the end of the summer, the job trainees not only know what it means to be good workers, but they also know how to show their employer that they are good workers. Like by coming in on time, completing tasks in an efficient way, helping their co-workers, working well as a team, and showing initiative.

The youth aren't the only ones who benefit from the program; the entire community benefits. Our public spaces get sturdy new retaining walls. Our parks get safer access up and down hillsides in the form of well-made, attractive staircases. Our community-serving organizations, like schools and libraries, get an extra set of hands for data entry and filing. (Those are a just a couple of examples of the dozens and dozens of projects our job trainees will complete this summer.) And we community members get to enjoy all these great amenities and services.

Green Futures spring planting season a success!

2010-06-22T13:30:00.011-05:00

On June 5, Tree Trust wrapped up a successful spring of Green Futures plantings. St. Paul received 60 new, properly planted trees in Cherokee Park, where a large percentage of the mature trees are ash and will likely succumb to emerald ash borer - a destructive, wood-boring beetle - in the not-too-distant future. And Minnetrista will reap the benefits of 120 new trees in the City's brand new and no-longer-barren Lisle Park.

This year, our spring Green Futures plantings were especially meaningful for Tree Trust. Our dear friend and CEO, Dave Hawes, passed away in February after a battle with cancer, and the majority of the trees we planted in Minnetrista and St. Paul were donated in his memory. Many of his family were there to help plant the trees; his daughter even shared some memories of her father's life-long commitment to forestry and to Tree Trust. We're proud to have been able to honor him in this special, meaningful way.

Green Futures plantings happen because people in the Twin Cities care about investing in our local environment and making a real, tangible difference. People donate money in whatever amount they can, and their donation is matched dollar-for-dollar by a local family foundation that helped us launch Green Futures. All this money is pooled together, and for every $150 reached, we plant one six- to ten-foot tall tree in a park or public space in the Twin Cities.

And this "we" includes you! All donors are invited to participate in the community planting their contribution has helped made possible, and we also invite our dedicated Tree Trust volunteers and members of the local community to come out and get the trees in the ground.

While our spring planting season is over, we're already looking forward to a fall full of trees. If you feel inspired to make a contribution - whether in honor or memory of a loved one, in celebration of a special event, or just because - we'd love to have your support! You can donate online or mail us a check; we're not too picky. We hope you'll join us in planting tomorrow's trees today.

Our thanks to recent funders

2010-06-14T10:39:00.000-05:00

Tree Trust thanks our most recent funders for their support:

Allina Health Systems
American Legion Post 424 - Inver Grove Heights
The Bloomington Community Foundation
Bloomington Lions Club
CenterPoint Energy
Connexus Energy
East Central Energy
Ecolab Foundation
Fiber Artisans Guild
Lillian Wright & C. Emil Berglund Foundation
The McKnight Foundation
OptumHealth
The Pentair Foundation
Quadion Foundation
RBC Foundation - USA
Rosemount Lions Club
City of Rosemount - SKB Environmental Trust Fund
Target Foundation
TruStone Financial

Thank you for supporting our programs!

Green Futures for Cherokee Park!

2010-06-09T09:43:00.002-05:00

50 volunteers got together on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at St. Paul's Cherokee Park to plant 60 trees as part of Tree Trust's Green Futures initiative.

A little light drizzle didn't spoil a thing: families, couples, and individuals worked together to get trees in the ground the right way. These new trees are off to a great start, ready to take the place of the mighty ash trees when they succumb to emerald ash borer.

This event was especially meaningful for Tree Trust because all the trees were planted in memory of our CEO, David Hawes, who passed away in February after a battle with cancer. Dave's family joined other volunteers to plant in honor of his lifelong love of trees and commitment to transforming lives and landscapes during his 30+ years at Tree Trust.

Thanks so much to:

The volunteers and donors who made this event possible
Our trusty trainers for teaching everyone how to plant correctly
The City of St. Paul for applying for a Green Futures grant and working to get more trees in the parks
Amore Coffee for donating the coffee
Mississippi Market for donating a gift card to buy snacks for our volunteers
Our Landscape Services team for providing event support
Our Community Forestry Manager, Karen Zumach, for creating the landscape plan and facilitating the event

This is the last Green Futures planting for the spring, but we're currently accepting donations for plantings in the fall. If someone has a birthday coming up, a new baby is coming into the world, a friend is getting married or having an anniversary, or someone close to you just really loves trees, think about making a donation in their honor!

Check out more photos from the event in this Flickr set.

Press Release: Green Futures for Minnetrista's Lisle Park

2010-06-03T14:11:00.000-05:00

For immediate release: Green Futures for Minnetrista's Lisle Park

Minnetrista, MN - June 4, 2010 - On Saturday, May 22, 2010, Tree Trust staff gathered over 70 community volunteers to plant 120 trees in Minnetrista's Lisle Park as part of Tree Trust's Green Futures initiative. Severe weather rolled in halfway through the event and curtailed the planting, but Tree Trust's Young Adult Conservation Corps finished the job the following Monday.

The planting began with a brief program recognizing the donations to Tree Trust's Green Futures initiative that made the event possible. Many trees were donated in memory of Tree Trust's CEO David Hawes, who passed away in February after a battle with cancer, and his family said a few words about his life-long commitment to Tree Trust and passion for trees.

A workshop followed to teach all volunteers how to plant trees the right way. Trees planted included red maple, Japanese tree lilac, red splendor crabapple, hackberry, basswood, thornless honey locust, black hills spruce and quaking aspen.

After about half the trees were planted, flickers of lightning appeared in the distance and rain started to fall. Many volunteers took shelter in their vehicles to wait out the unsafe weather, but the storm refused to pass. On Monday, a crew of Tree Trust Young Adult Conservation Corps job-trainees worked at the park to plant the remaining trees.

Lisle Park, a 15.5-acre city park on the south side of the Hunters Crest neighborhood, was chosen as a Green Futures planting site through a competitive proposal process. The City of Minnetrista submitted an application to Tree Trust that demonstrated the financial and environmental need for trees in Lisle Park and the City's commitment to ensuring the trees' long-term survival.

This Tree Trust - Green Futures planting was made possible by individual donations, a matching grant from a local family foundation, and a contribution from Cargill, Inc. - BiOH ®polyols division. For additional information or to get involved with Tree Trust's Green Futures, contact Tracie Huhn, Director of Development and Marketing, at tracieh@treetrust.org or 651-644-5800.

Tree Trust is a Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 to provide out-of-work individuals with training and paid jobs reforesting the community. They have since expanded to provide integrated employment training, environmental education and community forestry programs to youth and adults in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

The City of Minnetrista is located on the western bays of Lake Minnetonka and the agricultural rich plains and idyllic woodlands of southwestern Hennepin County. The name Minnetrista is derived from the Native American word "minne" meaning waters, and "trista" meaning crooked. The 32 square miles is home to 6,234 residents who enjoy the rural residential and lakeside settings. Whether you're just passing through, or spending some time at one of the enchanting area parks, you will be welcomed in Minnetrista!

Plant A Wish and some trees June 2

2010-05-28T15:52:00.002-05:00

We hope you'll join us on June 2 at 5:00 PM to plant a wish along with 15-20 native trees on the Midtown Greenway, just east of Hiawatha Ave. and the Martin Olav Sabo bridge (near the intersection of Minnehaha Ave. & E. 29th St.). While we're planting, the lovely folks from Plant A Wish will film us for their nation-wide tree-planting documentary film project.

We are looking for at least 100 people to join us for this special event. Adults, kids, families and groups are welcome. Everyone is welcome to plant a wish; you'll write your wish on a bit of brown grocery bag and put it in the ground with a tree when it's being planted.

We have a limited number of spots (40-50) available for people who want to actually plant the trees, so please respond quickly if you're hoping to do the dirty work.

And we could especially use the help of our Tree Trainers. If you've taken our Tree Training in the last few years and are available to lead and supervise volunteers at this special event, please let us know.

Please RSVP to tracieh@treetrust.org and let us know if you are interested in planting, wishing or both!*

Check out the press release for this event to learn more about the partnership. You can also check out Plant A Wish on Facebook (and check out Tree Trust, too, while you're at it) and at their website.

*This event will be filmed. Attendees may appear in the documentary and promotional materials.

HealthPartners goes green

2010-05-07T07:40:00.000-05:00

HealthPartners has teamed up with Tree Trust to reduce clutter and save trees. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day (April 22, 2010), they are asking HealthPartners members to switch from having their explanation of benefits (EOBs) sent through snail mail to receiving them through secure online delivery.

If at least 1,000 members sign up between April 22 and May 22, HealthPartners will sponsor the planting of 20 trees at one of our Green Futures planting events this fall.

EOBs stay in your secure, online HealthPartners account for as long as you have coverage with HealthPartners. So if you sign up today and get an online EOB tomorrow, you'll still be able to view that EOB five years from now, or whenever you choose, as long as you're with HealthPartners.

Are you still receiving your stuff the old fashioned way? Think of all the trees we could save (and plant) if every HealthPartners member signed up to go paperless this month. Do your part to end the paper pileup by logging into your online HealthPartners account and making the switch today.

Haven't created your online account yet? Go to healthpartners.com/gopaperless to sign up.

Weeding Wednesdays - pull weeds to save trees along the Midtown Greenway

2010-05-03T14:17:00.001-05:00

While our Young Adult Conservation Corps crews work hard to mow the grass and water the trees along the Midtown Greenway, we need more hands to dig in and pull the massive weeds that bully the trees by stealing their nutrients and their lunch money.

That's where you come in. You can help us get a handle on the weeds along the Greenway by volunteering to pull them out of the ground on Wednesday evenings from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. We'll be at different locations each Wednesday, so keep an eye on our schedule of upcoming events to find out where you can join us. Or, if you'd rather look at a map than a calendar, you can take a look at our Google map of Weeding Wednesdays.

When you find a Weeding Wednesday you'd like to join, just email jessicas@treetrust.org or call Jessica at 651-644-5800 to sign up.

Learning with Trees: Local businesses support environmental education

2010-04-30T14:05:00.003-05:00

With the continued support of East Central Energy and CenterPoint Energy, and a new grant from Cargill Inc., Tree Trust has been able to bring our Learning with Trees program to three Minnesota schools during the 2009-2010 school year.

During the month of April, students in each of these schools will participate in the interactive Our Town Trees exhibit, an environmental learning opportunity that includes five modules such as "Trees Are Cool" and "Trees Clean Our Water," that teach the benefits of trees to build a conceptual framework for the students' hands-on planting experience that will occur later in the school year.

Green teams made up of teachers, principals, maintenance workers and parents from each school have been hard at work with our school coordinators to develop a new landscape plan for their schools' grounds. The goal for each school's green team: to transform their playgrounds into living laboratories that provide continued opportunities for outdoor learning.

Trailview Elementary School, located in Mora, MN, is a third through fifth grade school with 540 students. Sponsored by East Central Energy, this school was chosen to participate in the Learning with Trees program in order to revitalize the school's existing nature trail and create an outdoor learning area that will enable teachers to take their lessons outside the classroom. In addition to 10 benches, which will be installed adjacent to the nature trail, students will plant several trees and shrubs throughout the classroom area and nature trail. Community groups like the Mora Lion's Club, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, local high school and area master gardeners are collaborating to make Trailview's vision a reality.

Golden Valley's Meadowbrook Elementary School has 620 kindergarten through sixth grade students. CenterPoint Energy's sponsorship of this school's participation in Learning with Trees will enable the school to create a much desired outdoor learning area that will be surrounded by prairie plantings created and maintained by the school's existing garden group. In addition, students will plant several trees around the school grounds to create shade for its playground, conserve energy for the school, and produce fruit.

In Maple Grove, Fernbrook Elementary School, a kindergarten through sixth grade school with 950 students, is being sponsored by Cargill, Inc. Our Learning with Trees program will help facilitate a strong environmental learning curriculum with the construction of a cozy but not crowded outdoor learning area. An area on the school grounds that is currently barren will soon include 12 benches to provide seating for outdoor lessons, various shrubs and fruit-bearing trees to invite birds and other wildlife, evergreens to serve as a windbreak around the benches, and shade trees to keep the area comfortable during hot days. Plans for future enhancements include the addition of a sensory garden.

Students and green team members at Trailview Elementary School and Fernbrook Elementary School will turn these plans into a reality when they help to install benches and kiosks as well as plant, mulch and water trees during an all-school planting day on May 13 and May 21, respectively. Students and Meadowbrook Elementary School will have their planting event this fall.

Thanks to our sponsors and partner schools for helping us teach students the importance of protecting and preserving the environment and helping them realize that they can make a difference.

Welcoming our new Tree Trainers

2010-04-26T14:03:00.001-05:00

With the help of two veteran volunteers, Tree Trust staff initiated a new group of 11 volunteers into the ranks of Tree Trainers this past Saturday. These dedicated volunteers learned the ins and outs of proper tree-planting, from digging down to the root flare and waking up the roots to mulching donut-style (not volcano-style). Then they got some hands-on practice leading each other through the process and planting 14 trees along the Midtown Greenway just east of Hiawatha in Minneapolis.

These and other Tree Trainers will be on hand at our planting events throughout the year to supervise volunteers and make sure everything gets in the ground correctly. That means that when you volunteer at one of our plantings, you leave behind a bunch of trees that are off to a great start in life, and you take with you the knowledge to plant trees correctly in the future.

You can learn more about planting trees correctly from our flier, aptly titled "Plant a Tree the Right Way." And we hope you'll join us at one of our events this spring, like our Green Futures planting at Lisle Park in Minnetrista, where we'll be planting 120 trees the right way. See all of our upcoming events and register for something today!

Check out more photos of the event on Flickr.

Celebrate Earth Day's birthday with trees for the Twin Cities

2010-04-12T12:19:00.006-05:00

April 22, 2010 will be the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, started in 1970 by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as a grassroots movement to raise awareness about the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been working on separate environmental issues - from pollution and oil spills to the extinction of wildlife - came together around a common cause and began the modern environmental movement.

In celebration of Earth Day's birthday, we hope you'll come together around our common environmental cause: trees for the Twin Cities. Whether you volunteer, donate, or spread the word, your support makes our community that much greener.

Here's what we're doing to help the environment this spring, along with tips for how you can help.

[Photo by Satoru Kikuchi under Creative Commons license.]

Minneapolis City Trees
In partnership with the City of Minneapolis for the fifth year in a row, we're offering 1,250 trees to Minneapolis residents at a low cost to help green the City.

How you can help:

If you're a Minneapolis resident with a spot for a tree in your yard, buy one!
Volunteer to load trees and mulch into vehicles and pass out information about how to properly plant and care for trees. Pick-up happens Saturday, May 8 (7:00 AM - 3:00 PM), Sunday, May 9 (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM), and Monday, May 10 (3:00 PM - 7:00 PM) at the Minneapolis Impound Lot (51 Colfax Ave. N.). Just respond to this email to register.

St. Louis Park Tree Sale
In partnership with the City of St. Louis Park for the second year in a row, we're offering 200 trees to SLP residents at a low cost.

How you can help:

If you're a St. Louis Park resident with a spot for a tree in your yard, buy one. There are only three trees left (all Quaking Aspens), so act fast!
(We'd ask you to volunteer, but we already have enough people signed up for this.)

Green Futures Plantings
Here's how Green Futures works:

You make a donation of any amount.
Your gift is doubled by a dollar-for-dollar match from a local foundation.
Every $150 reached in the fund plants a tree in the Twin Cities.
You can help plant these trees in a local park or recreation area.

Pretty nifty, right? We have two Green Futures plantings coming up this spring: 120 trees at Lisle Park in Minnetrista on Saturday, May 22 and 60 trees at Cherokee Park in St. Paul on Saturday, June 5.

How you can help:

Make a donation to help us plant more trees (just select "Green Futures initiative" as the program designation).
Volunteer to plant at Lisle Park or Cherokee Park. Just respond to this email to register.

Learning with Trees

Our Learning with Trees program helps schools throughout the state create sustainable environmental science programs that include outdoor learning areas on their grounds. The program culminates in an all-school planting day, when every student plays a role - digger, planter, mulcher, or waterer - in planting a tree.

For the 2009-2010 school year, we're bringing Learning with Trees to three elementary schools with the help of our sponsors:

Meadowbrook Elementary in Golden Valley, thanks to CenterPoint Energy
Trailview Elementary in Mora, thanks to East Central Energy
Fernbrook Elementary in Maple Grove, thanks to Cargill

How you can help: Make a donation to support our Learning with Trees program.

Season Two: Twin Cities urban forest versus the Emerald Ash Borer

2010-04-05T12:50:00.001-05:00

Tree Trust's very own Community Forestry Manager, Karen Zumach, wrote a great article for The Twin Cities Daily Planet about emerald ash borer in the Twin Cities. She offers some great tips for what we can do to prevent the spread of this invasive insect (hint: one tip involves firewood and, you know, not moving it!). Read the article to learn more.

Despite our best efforts to contain the pest, the fact remains that trees will be lost. You can help us reduce the impact of EAB by planting tomorrow's trees today. Check out our Green Futures page to learn more.

What's great about volunteering with Tree Trust?

2010-03-26T14:02:00.000-05:00

In December 2009, Tree Trust asked individuals who volunteered in 2009 to share thoughts about their experience by participating in a brief, nine-question survey. Read our short report to find out what people like best about volunteering with Tree Trust.

Dave Hawes

2010-03-18T12:56:00.001-05:00

Thirty-two years ago Dave Hawes was a young forester excitedly starting his first day with Tree Trust. The work was harder than he thought it would be. The kids he was teaching to plant trees and build bridges sometimes seemed more interested in socializing than working. Many of his projects were deep in the woods and he and his crew would spend as much time swatting mosquitoes as they did busting buckthorn. Other times their project would be right on schedule and Mother Nature would throw a wrench in their plan.

But he was happy. He was doing two of the things he loved most – making the Twin Cities a little greener and helping people make their lives a little better. And for the next 32 years Dave dedicated himself to Tree Trust and continued to do just that.

In his time with us Dave moved from leading crews of young people to managing the agency’s expanding operations and creating our for-profit venture, Landscape Services, in order to help sustain Tree Trust in future years.

In 2007, Dave became our Chief Executive Officer. Blending his respect for the history of Tree Trust with his passion for new ideas, the agency’s programming continued to grow. And in 2008 he launched our Green Futures initiative and paved the way for Tree Trust to play an even bigger role in improving lives and landscapes throughout the Twin Cities.

Over the years Dave could have explored other career opportunities that might have provided him with a more consistent schedule, more notoriety and perhaps even more money. But, he was one of those rare people who actually loved going to work each day. Dave truly loved Tree Trust.

Earlier this year our dear friend passed away after a brave eight-month battle with cancer.

While Dave’s formal education was in forestry, we will remember him for his heart and passion for people. We are forever grateful for what he’s done for Tree Trust and the community, and we miss him dearly.

Thank you to our recent funders!

2010-03-16T16:10:00.001-05:00

Tree Trust recently received grant funding for our 2010 programs from a number of corporations and foundations, including:

Baker Foundation
Cargill
CenterPoint Energy
East Central Energy
Nash Foundation
Private Bank of Minnesota
Smikis Foundation
Tennant Foundation

Thank you for your support!

Minneapolis City Trees - residents can buy a tree for $25

2010-03-15T07:57:00.001-05:00

The City of Minneapolis has partnered with Tree Trust for the fifth year in a row to offer its residents trees at a low cost - just $25 for a six- to ten-foot tall tree.

Varieties available this year are:

Blue Beech
Burgundy Belle Maple
Choke Cherry 'Canada Select'
Fat Albert Spruce
Kentucky Coffeetree
Merrill Magnolia
Oak 'Regal Prince'
Redmond Linden
Pagoda Dogwood

Quantities are limited, and residents must order by Friday, April 16, 2010.

Residents who purchase trees will pick them up at the Minneapolis Impound Lot at 51 Colfax Ave. N. on Saturday, May 8 (7:00 AM to 3:00 PM), Sunday, May 9 (8:00 AM to 12:00 PM), or Monday, May 10 (3:00 PM to 7:00 PM).

A new addition to this year's program is the opportunity to make a donation towards planting more trees in Minneapolis.

Limited number of trees still available for St. Louis Park residents

2010-03-11T11:56:00.000-06:00

There are still a limited number of trees available to St. Louis Park residents for $35 each as part of our second annual St. Louis Park Tree Sale. If you live in St. Louis Park, this sale is a great opportunity to add some green to your yard and improve the environmental health of your entire community.

To learn more and order a tree, visit http://www.treetrust.org/orderhere/index.html. Act quickly to get a tree or two for yourself before they're all spoken for!

2010 Youth Conservation Corps now accepting applications

2010-03-01T07:30:00.002-06:00

We are now accepting applications for our Youth Conservation Corps, a nine-week summer youth employment training program that puts youth to work in our communities. Dakota and suburban Hennepin County residents can download this application, and Washington County residents can download this one.

This program is very popular and fills up quickly, so apply early for the best chance of getting a job this summer.

Edit 5/28/2010: The Youth Conservation Corps program is full for 2010, and we are no longer accepting applications.

Youth Conservation Corps job offers will be made the first week of June. All applicants will receive one of the following letters by mail; a job offer letter or a waiting list letter. Applicants will need to respond to their job offer by the deadline indicated in the letter or the offer will be retracted. For those on the waiting list, we will contact you by telephone if a position comes available after the program begins.

Emerald ash borer in Minneapolis

2010-02-26T12:44:00.002-06:00

It was only a matter of time before the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that has the potential to wipe out all of Minnesota's ash trees, would cross the border from St. Paul into Minneapolis. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture confirmed yesterday that the pest had indeed been found in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, a mile or so from the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul where it was spotted last year.

Tree Trust's administrative office is just minutes away from these sites of infestation, and the impending possibility of losing all 200,000 of the Twin Cities' ash trees echoes the crisis that sparked the creation of our organization: the devastation caused by Dutch elm disease in the 1970s. Tree Trust's founders responded to that crisis by training and paying un- and under-employed individuals to reforest our communities.

Today, our Green Futures initiative is poised to respond to the threat of emerald ash borer by getting new trees in the ground before the pest destroys the Twin Cities' ash trees. You can help us plant tomorrow's trees today with a donation to Green Futures, and your money will go even further thanks to a dollar-for-dollar match from a local family foundation that helped us launch the initiative.

Please remember: don't transport firewood! Buy it where you burn it to help slow the spread of emerald ash borer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benimoto/ / CC BY 2.0

St. Louis Park residents can buy trees for $35

2010-02-25T09:34:00.002-06:00

The City of St. Louis Park has partnered with us for the second year in a row to offer 200 trees to its residents at $35 each. Do your part to re-leaf the city by planting one of these lovely trees this spring!

Varieties available are:

Sugar Maple ‘Fall Fiesta’
Black Hills Spruce
Red Splendor Crabapple
White Oak
Quaking Aspen
River Birch

We'll accept orders through March 12, and the pick-up will be at the St. Louis Park Municipal Service Center (7305 Oxford St.) on Saturday, May 1, 2010 between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM.

If you live in St. Louis Park, you can order a tree (or two) online at www.treetrust.org/orderhere. If you need a paper order form, you can get one at one of these places:

Nature Center, 8300 W. Franklin
City Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Blvd.
Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Dr.

Trees are in size 10 containers and will be 6 to 10 feet tall.

The City of St. Louis Park will host a tree workshop on March 30, 2010 at 7:00 PM at City Hall (5005 Minnetonka Blvd.). Residents who participate in the St. Louis Park Tree Sale are encouraged to attend and learn how to properly plant and care for their new trees.

Green New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-05T12:09:00.000-06:00

Be green in the new year! Here are some ideas to add to your New Year's resolutions:

Plant a tree (or two, or three...). Join Tree Trust at one of our community forestry events in the spring! Or plant a tree in your own yard. Just be sure you know how to plant a tree the right way.

Shop locally at co-op groceries and farmers markets. Locally produced food requires much less time and energy to transport, so your food is fresher and your money isn't buying fuel for transcontinental shipping. Plus, your local choice supports growers in your own community. Find a farmers market near you.

Grow your own food. Even better than buying locally is connecting with your own food in your own backyard. Don't have a yard? Tomatoes, peppers, and herbs do well in pots on your patio. Don't have a patio? Seek out a community garden to connect with and learn from your green-thumbed neighbors.

Contribute to our Green Futures fund. Your donation will be doubled by a dollar-for-dollar match from a local foundation, and every $150 reached in the fund plants a six- to ten-foot tall tree in a Twin Cities park or recreation area. You can even help plant your tree! Learn more about Green Futures.

We wish you a very happy new year, and we hope you'll make 2010 great and green.

What you can do for the Twin Cities

2009-12-10T13:07:00.001-06:00

In the Twin Cities, thousands of trees are lost each year to storms, pests, and disease. Thousands of young people face barriers to success in work and in life. And thousands of youth grow up without ever experiencing a connection with the natural world.

Luckily for the Twin Cities, people like you take action and work with Tree Trust to solve these problems. In the process, we enrich our own lives.

In the October issue of Community Ties, we asked you to tell us how getting involved with Tree Trust has impacted your life. Here are just a few of the great responses we received:

My child was happily busy at the summer training program [Youth Conservation Corps]. The good attitude was passed on to the rest of our family instead of that child endlessly challenging every one. Thanks!

I look at trees differently now. I have a life-long interest and connection to trees as a result of my Tree Trust experience. I admire their shapes and unique differences. My knowledge of MN trees makes me feel much more connected to our beautiful state, and I'm able to help others when they have questions about our native trees. When seedlings sprout up in our yard, my husband and I offer these young trees to others to plant in their yards. We look on them as gifts instead of weeds when they pop up in the garden.

I want to volunteer soon!

Perhaps you’re also thinking about getting involved with Tree Trust. Or maybe it’s been a while. Take a look at some of the important ways you can support the work we do and make a difference in our community.

Make a donation

Charitable donations to Tree Trust help make our programs possible.

Volunteer

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our Community Forestry program. Weekends in the spring and fall are full of busy neighbors getting dirty and putting trees in the ground. On Wednesday evenings in the summer, dedicated weeders remove the competition so the trees along the Midtown Greenway can thrive. And on school days in the spring, advanced volunteers with our Learning with Trees program lead groups of students as they plant trees to create outdoor learning areas on their school grounds.

While fall is giving way to winter and spring is but a distant memory, the truly courageous can still volunteer for trees. In January, we’ll begin taking inventory of ash trees for the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority to help them prepare for the arrival of emerald ash borer in their area. And you can help! Look for details on our website and in your inbox in January.

Spread the word

If counting trees in the cold isn’t up your alley, here’s a way to get involved that requires little time and effort but goes a long way: spread the word.

Take the time to tell your friends and family about your experiences with Tree Trust and share the news about what we’ve done or are doing in your community. Start by forwarding this newsletter to five friends. Become a fan on Facebook and invite your friends to do the same. Write a testimonial about us on Great Nonprofits. Your own experiences are the best advertisement for planting trees and changing lives in the Twin Cities.

Talk to your employer

Another way to get involved that you may not have thought about is to talk to your employer about Tree Trust.

They may be able to match your donation, make a financial contribution for your volunteer time, donate merchandise or services, sponsor a school’s participation in our Learning with Trees program, or fund a planting event that involves your entire organization. When your employer says, “Wow! We definitely want to get involved with Tree Trust,” you can recommend they contact Tracie at tracieh@treetrust.org or 651-644-5800.

Participate

You can also get involved with Tree Trust by becoming or referring a participant. If you or someone you know could use help developing job skills, take a look at our Youth Conservation Corps summer program, Young Adult Conservation Corps year-round program, and YouthBuild program to see what might be a good fit. If your school might be interested in creating an outdoor learning area on their grounds, check out Learning with Trees for information on bringing this environmental science program to your school.

We hope you’ll choose at least one way to join us as we bring people together to create positive, lasting changes in their communities and in their own lives.

A Great Volunteer

2009-12-01T12:40:00.003-06:00

Giampaolo Malin connected with Tree Trust in April this year, and since then he has volunteered more hours than any other individual in 2009. He has an inspiring commitment to the environment and to an overall ethic of civic responsibility, and we at Tree Trust are so grateful for his hard work and dedication.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

A: I moved to the U.S. from Milan, Italy 13 years ago. I spent most of this time living in Minneapolis, but I also lived in Boston for five years.

Q: What do you do for a living?

A: I work for General Mills in Information Systems.

Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Volunteer with Tree Trust of course! I also love spending time with the many wonderful friends I have. I like going to the Guthrie and watching independent movies in local theatres. I play soccer, and although I am not currently teaching, I am a scuba diving instructor so I go diving in the Caribbean as much as I can. Finally, I travel to Italy to see my family including my 15-months-young niece.

Q: Why do you volunteer in general?

A: To me it’s very important to give back to the community. I know that I am very lucky to have a great job and good life, and I also know that there are people who are not so lucky and need a little help. I’d like to think that by volunteering I can make a little difference directly in someone’s life or for future generations in the case of planting trees. On top of all this, it makes me feel great!

Q: Where else do you volunteer besides Tree Trust?

A: I am a licensed amateur radio operator, so I volunteer providing emergency communications for various events. This year I helped at the Twin Cities Marathon and at the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s MS 150 Bike Tour.

I also helped at the Living Green Expo, at the MS Society’s MS Motorcycle Tour, and other events. I am a First Aid/CPR/AED instructor, and I am in the process of exploring volunteering opportunities where I can teach these skills.

Q: How did you hear about Tree Trust?

A: General Mills strongly encourages volunteering and offers a “search engine” for volunteering events (linked to http://www.volunteermatch.org/. I used that search engine to look for opportunities that had something to do with the environment, and I saw a couple of listings by Tree Trust. I decided to give it a try, and I didn’t stop since.

Q: What made you sign up for your first volunteer event?

A: I deeply care for the environment, and I love sharing what I know with other people. When I saw that Tree Trust was looking for people who were willing to become tree trainers and could help guiding other volunteers during the planting events, it sounded like a perfect match: I could do something for the environment and share knowledge with people. So I decided to sign up, and I am glad I did.

Q: What was the best part of your first volunteer experience?

A: My favorite part was the warming and welcoming atmosphere that I found when I came to the first event. I didn’t know anyone, but it didn’t take long to break the ice and feel comfortable around people I barely knew. The Tree Trust staff transmits the passion and energy that they have about trees. That is contagious and really excites you about the volunteer work that you do.

The other nice part is that at every event you meet new people as well as see again some people that you met at previous events.

Q: What was challenging?

A: What was a bit challenging for me at the beginning was that I didn’t have a lot of experience with planting trees and I was one of the “tree trainers.” Even though I attended training to prepare me, I was concerned that I would not be able to properly plant trees and demonstrate the process to the other volunteers. However, the Tree Trust staff is always on hand with recommendations. We all learned and still learn together, and that is really fun.

Q: How did you feel afterwards?

A: I felt great. The nice thing about this kind of volunteering is that it gives you immediate gratification. You can see “your” tree standing after you planted it, and you know that it will be there for years for other people to enjoy. You can even go back and check on “your” trees to see how they are doing. I have done that.

You know that you have done something for your community and for the planet as a whole, so how can’t you feel great about it?
Q: What made you return to volunteer again?

A: Many things, but the top two are:

The feeling that you are doing something great for your community and for the planet that people will enjoy for years to come.
The great people at Tree Trust and the other volunteers that you meet at the events. Usually I meet people who share my same values, and therefore it’s easy to have fun and have a great day outside together.

Q: What (if anything) do you think sets Tree Trust apart from other nonprofits?

A: I think that Tree Trust combines several things in one. It supports local communities so that what you do is enjoyed by people in Minnesota, but at the same time it betters the whole planet. However, the community support is not limited to planting trees but is expanded to programs that teach people valuable skills that will prepare them to enter the work force. I think this is a great combination.

Q: Why is planting trees important to you?

A: Trees do a lot for us, especially now that we are polluting like we never did before. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, provide shade which reduces cooling costs, control erosion, and make places look better. What else can be more important?

Youthbuilders rehab a house in North Minneapolis

2009-11-10T10:24:00.004-06:00

In this video, crews of YouthBuilders share their experiences as they seal the basement wall and wash the windows of a house they're rehabbing in North Minneapolis.

Learn more about YouthBuild.

Brooklyn Center awards Tree Trust for Random Acts of Kindness

2009-10-26T10:19:00.005-05:00

On October 26, 2009, Tree Trust received the City of Brooklyn Center's Random Acts of Kindness award. Tree Trust received the award in honor of the staff and Youth Conservation Corps participants who worked so hard to improve the city of Brooklyn Center.

This summer several Youth Conservation Corps crews completed landscape and construction projects at Earle Brown Terrace, Kylawn Park and Brooklyn Center City Hall, while others completed internships at the Brooklyn Center Historical Society, Brooklyn Center City Hall, Earl Brown Heritage Center and Centerbrook Golf Course.

The award was presented to Tree Trust by Tim Wilson, Mayor of Brooklyn Center, during the October City Council meeting. Accepting the award on behalf of Tree Trust were Paula Van Avery, Case Management Coordinator, and Gabrielle Saygbe, 2009 Youth Conservation Corps participant.

Learn more about our Youth Conservation Corps program.

Green Futures volunteers plant trees at Lake Elmo Park Reserve

2009-10-05T10:15:00.009-05:00

On Saturday, October 3, 2009, Tree Trust gave 33 community volunteers the tools and training they needed to plant 100 trees at Lake Elmo Park Reserve.

In this video, the volunteers talk about why they came out to brave the muck and tell us a bit about how to plant a tree.

Learn more about Green Futures.

See our current volunteer opportunities.

Winterizing our community trees

2009-10-01T12:38:00.001-05:00

We encourage you to invest in the health of your own trees by following a few simple winterizing tips and to invest in the health of our community forest by donating to Tree Trust.

Our community forestry manager, Karen Zumach, prescribes this treatment for the trees we plant and maintain along the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority trail system (the Midtown Greenway and beyond) and suggests that you follow the same regimen in your own yard:

Wrap thin-skinned trees like maple or basswood to protect them from sun scald, and put guards on delicious trees to protect them from rabbits and deer.
Water evergreens until hard frost, and wrap newly planted evergreens with burlap if they’re planted at a windy, dry site to prevent winter burn.
Rake leaves away from tree trunks to prevent festering. You’re probably raking anyway, right?

Other important tips:

When you’re raking your lawn and gathering sticks, please be aware that there is a quarantine on wood and waste from ash trees because of the emerald ash borer.
Fall is a wonderful time for backyard bonfires and warm nights inside by the fireplace. Please take a look at the MDA’s Firewood Restrictions and Safe Handling Guidelines to make sure you’re doing your part to prevent the spread of emerald ash borer.

As you enjoy the fall colors and prepare your trees for winter, please consider making a donation to Tree Trust in honor or memory of a special person in your life. Such a donation to our Green Futures initiative will be matched dollar-for-dollar by our foundation partner, and we will send a note to the honoree and invite them (and you) to the planting event your donation helps make possible. You can help us plant 5,000 trees in the Twin Cities in the next five years!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/studio-d/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Trees aren’t a trend

2009-10-01T12:03:00.002-05:00

There are over eight million hits on Google for the phrase “go green.” From the countless top-ten lists to the carbon footprint calculators to the articles on the dangers of nail polish, it’s safe to say that the world has green on the brain.

It seems like every company is trying to market its products as the latest and greatest green thing. Clearly, someone got the memo that green sells. But we at Tree Trust would like to reintroduce the ultimate green product, one that has been around since before the concept of going green was even a twinkle in someone’s eye. One that is not trendy, but timeless. Of course, it’s the mighty tree.

You don’t have to be a tree-hugger to appreciate the benefits of trees (although it doesn’t hurt). On the aforementioned top-ten lists, recommendations that focus on conserving energy take up numerous spots (e.g., use compact fluorescent light bulbs, unplug things, turn the thermostat down in the winter).

Let’s not forget about trees. Trees help conserve energy. They provide a windbreak in the winter to lower heating costs, and they provide shade in the summer to lower cooling costs.

Trees also provide homes for wildlife, branches for tire swings, oxygen for us to breathe, and a natural method for reining in carbon dioxide. Their buds announce the arrival of spring, their green adds character to a Minnesota summer, and their glorious fall colors make us relish the lingering warmth of our days before winter.

Another top-ten list recommendation is to conserve water. Trees help with that, too. Although newly planted trees do require quite a bit of watering, once they mature they help manage our storm water by intercepting rainfall and filtering out pollutants.

Your answers to our August newsletter survey question, “What does ‘go green’ mean to you?” included many of the same suggestions. One person actually responded, “Buying great trees from Tree Trust” and let us know that the Korean Ash she purchased through the Minneapolis City Trees program is doing well. Another person had this great suggestion: “Buy food that is sustainable and try for local as much as possible.”

Tree Trust also emphasizes local sustainability by giving people the opportunity to actively green our communities. Whether by a donation of money to our Green Futures initiative or by a donation of hard work as a planting day volunteer, you can make a positive impact on our local environment. And you can know that you’re supporting a green product that will stand the test of time.

Learn more about our Community Forestry program.

Building projects for a better outdoors

2009-10-01T11:50:00.002-05:00

To find Tree Trust at work in your community, just step out of the house. Take a walk in the park to see a crew of eight youth constructing a much-needed staircase. Visit your local library to see one of our job trainees stocking shelves. Take a ride in Minneapolis to see a crew building a house for a low-income family.

Tree Trust’s employment training programs blend lives and landscapes together, and the concoction we create benefits the entire community in so many ways.

Young people overcome obstacles in their lives, experience success and develop pride in their abilities. Local businesses, nonprofits and community-serving agencies get to draw from an experienced workforce of young people who already know the basics, from the importance of getting to work on time to the value of a strong work ethic. And our parks and recreation areas get a facelift with real environmental benefits.

On a basic level, Tree Trust’s projects help control erosion. Rather than idealizing a pristine, preserved natural setting untouched by intrusive foot steps, one should be realistic. “You have to assume people are going to walk through green spaces,” said Matt Roegge, a site supervisor for our Young Adult Conservation Corps. “It is not uncommon to find desirable native plant species… in a park, or in a green space and want to keep people from trampling over such plants.”

To that end, our job trainees create and maintain trails that steer park visitors around valuable plants. They also build staircases that prevent people from traipsing down and rapidly eroding hillsides.

Humans aren’t the only erosion culprits that need reining in. Water, whether it’s flooding, flowing or trickling, is a mightily destructive force. It’s also what comes out of our faucets and flows into our lakes and rivers. So, we need to protect natural areas from damage by water, and we need to protect our water system from pollution.

To that end, our job trainees build sea walls along lakes and ponds and retaining walls around storm drains and waterways that control erosion problems and create, according to Matt, “a physical barrier to prevent sediments, fertilizers or organic matter from hitting the watershed.”

Not only do projects like these help minimize our negative impact, but they also make it easier and safer for us to enjoy the outdoors. Trails guide us through the woods so we don’t get lost. Taking a staircase is safer than tumbling down a hillside. Bridges and boardwalks take us from point A to point B without our getting wet.

The next time you visit a local park, take a moment to appreciate the projects that are making the outdoors a better place to be. With our job training programs putting youth and young adults to work for over 30 years, chances are good you’ll be appreciating the hard work of a Tree Truster.

Youth Conservation Corps in Minneapolis

2009-08-20T10:11:00.010-05:00

Minneapolis STEP-UP workers join Tree Trust's Youth Conservation Corps to earn money while creating positive, lasting changes in their lives and in their communities.

In this video, the job trainees talk about what they've learned during a summer of hard work.

Learn more about the Youth Conservation Corps.

Celebrating Young Adult Conservation Corps Graduates

2009-08-17T10:03:00.012-05:00

"I don't even know how to plant a tree," said Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein to a group of Tree Trust Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) graduates. "These are going to be skills you guys are using for the rest of your life."

On Friday, August 14, Tree Trust celebrated the graduation of 10 YACC participants with a ceremony and picnic at Boom Island Park in Minneapolis. Hennepin County Commissioners Mark Stenglein and Peter McLaughlin as well as Tree Trust staff showed their support for the graduates' accomplishments and enjoyed lunch compliments of Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.
Two graduates, Keandre Williams and Jose Roldan, shared some advice for the current YACC crew members. "You gotta be strong - can't be scared of no heat," said Williams. "Come every day, for real," said Roldan. Commissioner Stenglein agreed, saying, "Life is showing up." Roldan continued, "Do your best, be the best… especially believe in what you do."

In addition to the quality projects and service to the community these graduates completed during their time with Tree Trust - like building a timber staircase at Innsbruck Nature Center in Fridley and mowing lawns for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners - they also developed a sense of pride in working hard. "I like when everybody's working together," said Williams. "You feel proud and accomplished of your projects."

"Hopefully while you guys were working on your projects, you learned something about yourselves," said Tree Trust Director of Forestry & Conservation Corps Dave Nozal. Their crew leaders certainly learned about them; they handed out awards to the graduate who ate the most honey buns and to the graduate who sang the loudest in the truck on the way to work in the morning.

As the graduates move on - some to further their education, some to start their careers - they leave behind a lasting impression on the local landscape and take with them an understanding and appreciation of what it takes to be a great worker: solid attendance, respect for their supervisor and their fellow co-workers and pride in a job well done.

Learn more about YACC.

Economic stimulus package benefits Twin Cities' lives and landscapes

2009-08-01T11:41:00.003-05:00

To find Tree Trust at work in your community, just step out of the house. Take a walk in the park to see a crew of eight youth constructing a much-needed staircase. Visit your local library to see one of our job trainees stocking shelves. Take a ride in Minneapolis to see a crew building a house for a low-income family.

In 2009, we're employing and training over 1,400 young workers to make positive, lasting changes in their lives and in their communities. Compare that to the just over 800 participants we were able to serve in 2008. Not only are more young people receiving paychecks and learning how to be good workers, but also our parks and public spaces are getting safer, more accessible and more beautiful thanks to the impressive projects our job trainees complete.

We've been able to nearly double our impact thanks to new funding we received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Because of President Obama's stimulus package, both our Youth Conservation Corps and YouthBuild programs are making a big difference in the lives and landscapes of the Twin Cities.

This year, the stimulus package has more than doubled the level of federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding available to Minnesota's counties for youth employment training. In addition to Hennepin, Dakota, Washington and Scott Counties, which have long contracted with Tree Trust, Ramsey, Anoka and Carver Counties have also reached out to us to employ and train their resident youth through our Youth Conservation Corps program in 2009.

Similarly, the stimulus act has made additional dollars available through the Department of Labor to fund YouthBuild programs around the country. Tree Trust recently applied for and received a three-year, $700,000 grant to train and employ 40 young people, who will build and rehab houses for low-income families in Minneapolis while completing their high school education.

Our more than 30 years of experience providing employment training to young people and building quality projects in the Twin Cities have made it possible for us to expand our services so dramatically and rapidly. We're grateful for the opportunity to reach more people who need our help, and we look forward to the enjoying the benefits of the great new landscape and construction projects in our neighborhoods.

Golden Valley CityNews - Tree Trust projects help both youth and community

2009-07-20T16:14:00.002-05:00

The City of Golden Valley's newsletter highlights a Tree Trust Youth Conservation Corps crew building a retaining wall in their city and details the history of our 30-year relationship.

Read the newsletter (we're on page 13).

Working Across Cultures

2009-07-15T12:14:00.017-05:00

Two young women, dressed in ankle-length skirts and long headscarves, are hammering away on a large block of wood.

Upon looking at the t-shirt-and-shorts-clad youth working at the site, one may wonder if the women's attire acts as a hindrance to their work. A few minutes of careful observation, however, will reveal that these two young Somali women are among the most hardworking members of their Tree Trust Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew.

Both Fardosa Haji, 21, and Fardowsa Ali, 18, are spending their summers building a fire pit at Hyland Lake Park Reserve with a group of six other members. They are just two of the approximately 1,300 youth that Tree Trust will serve through its YCC program this year. The program provides summer jobs and employment training to youth between the ages of 14 and 21 residing in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area.

Both Haji and Ali grew up in Kenya. Haji arrived in the U.S. in September 2005, and her summer job with Tree Trust is her first work experience. Ali, on the other hand, has had a previous job at Eden Prairie Mall selling kids' merchandise at a kiosk. They took up their jobs with Tree Trust because they needed the money and also felt that it would be a good experience.

Despite the sweltering heat, both Haji and Ali remain optimistic about their work. They treat the hard manual labor that is required of them everyday as a means of exercise. "This job helps me to keep fit," comments Ali. Haji concurs by saying that her current job is "a lot healthier than other jobs." Haji also finds her job to be a good learning experience as she did not know how to do a lot of the construction work that she has been exposed to over the past few weeks.

They have nothing but praise to shower on the other crew members. They get along well with their mates, whom Ali describes as "fun" and "cool." Ali says that they have a great work attitude as a group because "everyone respects each other."

They are the only two women in the crew of eight. At this worksite, however, gender and ethnicity do not matter. A heavy block of brick is passed along the row from one crew member to another. Finally, it reaches Haji, who assembles it into the ground. The foundation for the fire pit is now complete.

Learn more about the Youth Conservation Corps.

Jordan neighbors turn site of weeds, violence into community garden

2009-07-10T11:32:00.002-05:00

"You couldn't even tell it was a garden," said crew leader Cortland Johnson as he and his crew loaded bag after bag into a truck bed. "Just looked like nothin' but weeds."

The Young Adult Conservation Corps crew spent three days on the corner of 26th and Knox Avenues North in Minneapolis whipping, pulling, raking and bagging weeds, tilling the densely compacted soil, laying down mulch and getting everything ready for the neighborhood to re-plant the Jordon Community Garden.

This corner lot has a history worse than weeds. On August 22, 2002, a riot broke out after police accidentally shot a boy during a botched drug raid at the adjacent property.

But on Friday, July 10, more than 20 volunteers - 15 of whom were North Minneapolis neighbors - came together to get their hands dirty and install over 200 plants where weeds and violence once ran rampant. Tree Trust partnered with the Jordan Area Community Council to plan and implement this neighborhood revitalization effort funded by the Pohlad Family Foundation.

Neighbors Bruce and Carolyn Pinke spent all day working in the garden. "[Volunteering is] just part of our lifestyle," said Bruce. "We just really like being part of the community." They worked with their neighbors to plant switchgrass, black-eyed Susans, purple coneflowers, limelight hydrangeas and more to renew the community space.

This isn't the first time neighbors have come together to turn this spot into a colorful gathering place for the community. In 2002, the neighborhood planted a community garden with flowers and vegetables on what was an unsightly vacant lot. Over the years, as neighbors moved away and interest waned, the weeds took control and the corner lot lapsed back into its unsightly state.

But the Jordan neighbors are committed to taking care of the plants they helped install this July. Bruce says he and his wife are not the only dedicated community members; many of their neighbors are very active in community activities and their block club and have a "desire to live in a community and work for renovation and revitalization."

Star Tribune - Building them up on the job

2009-07-06T16:23:00.000-05:00

The Star Tribune features a Youth Conservation Corps crew working at Groveland Park in Inver Grove Heights and explains how the federal stimulus funds are helping us reach more youth.

Read the story.

Eden Prairie Sun-Current - Tree Trust crew at work on Eden Prairie retaining wall

2009-07-02T16:26:00.001-05:00

The Eden Prairie Sun-Current checks in on a Youth Conservation Corps crew building a retaining wall in Eden Prairie.

Read the story.

Stillwater Gazette - Tree Trust landscaping program employs low-income, special needs and at-risk youth

2009-06-26T16:29:00.000-05:00

The Stillwater Gazette features a Youth Conservation Corps crew working at Big Marine Regional Park in Marine on St. Croix.

Read the story.

Kids do some dirty work

2009-05-18T15:59:00.002-05:00

The Mankato Free Press reports on an all-school planting day at Washington Elementary in May 2009.

Read the story.

Community invests in Spring Park's green future

2009-05-18T12:23:00.003-05:00

Over 60 volunteers planted 165 trees along the Dakota Trail on Saturday, May 16, 2009 to transform the area into a family-friendly green space and improve the environment.

Tree Trust organized the planting as part of our Green Futures initiative, which turns charitable donations into trees. With the help of a dollar-for-dollar match from a local foundation, Tree Trust launched Green Futures to plant 5,000 trees in parks and neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities metro area over the next five years.

The site of Saturday's planting is part of the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority corridor, which spans across the Twin Cities metro area and is used by thousands of walkers, runners and bikers each year. Tree Trust has been involved in planting and maintaining trees along this trail system for more than 10 years.

Volunteers planted these 165 trees in Spring Park just one day after emerald ash borer was confirmed to have crossed into Minnesota. Neighboring states have already lost tens of millions of trees to this insect, which destroys ash trees when its larvae feed on the inner bark and prevent the transportation of nutrients.

"This threat to Minnesota's 900 million ash trees echoes the devastation caused by Dutch elm disease in the 1970s - it's the very crisis that led to the creation of Tree Trust," said Dave Hawes, Tree Trust CEO. "Our Green Futures initiative allows people to take an active role in combating the effects of emerald ash borer-planting tomorrow's trees today."

Tree Trust's planting gave local residents a hands-on opportunity to play a tangible, lasting role in the greening of their own community.

Learn more about Green Futures.

Learn more about volunteering with Tree Trust.

Two trainees graduate from Young Adult Conservation Corps

2009-04-01T16:54:00.006-05:00

Kenny Clark and LaTravis McCoy (pictured above) graduated from the Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) program on Friday, March 27 after spending six months building park improvement projects, cutting down dead and diseased trees and removing buckthorn while developing a sense of teamwork and an appreciation for the rewards of hard work.

YACC program staff and participants came together for a pizza party to celebrate Clark and McCoy's accomplishments and wish them well. "They taught me to keep things positive, that we can still get a lot done if we have fun and work hard," said their crew leader, Teresa Loetscher, to an audience of program staff, new job trainees and the graduates.

The graduates both enjoyed their time with Tree Trust and wish it could have lasted longer, despite the trials of getting up early in the morning and working outside through the entire winter. When asked to name the most difficult aspect of his experience, McCoy responded with one word: "Cold."

McCoy especially enjoyed working on the retaining wall at 8th & Washburn in North Minneapolis: "I felt like I was really able to develop and use a variety of skills to make that project come together." Clark's first project was also his favorite: the dugout he helped build in Hastings. "I really surprised myself with what I could do," he said.

The two graduates learned a lot during their six months with Tree Trust. McCoy said he "gained some great technical skills in the construction trade" and came to appreciate the value of coming to work on time every day. Clark said he "learned how to measure, assess safety standards, read blueprints and work with a variety of hand and power tools" and he "learned how to work as a team."

Clark thanked everyone "for putting up with me and giving me a shot," and advised the new job trainees to "Come to work, learn as much as you can, and strive to be the best crew member you can be." McCoy had this piece of advice for the newer YACCers in the room: "Come to work on time, show effort, pay attention and you will be successful."

Learn more about the Young Adult Conservation Corps.