Twin Cities recognized for volunteerism

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

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

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

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!