In his own words.

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.