Paved Paradise – Trees in a Parking Lot
Armed with enthusiasm (and plenty of teamwork), students from Robbinsdale Cooper High School helped the Community Forestry team transform a sea of asphalt into a paved paradise. With sleeves rolled up and smiles on their faces, they unloaded and sorted trees by species for our Minneapolis tree sale. It was a crisp, golden fall day, the kind that makes any outdoor project feel like a celebration. But for these students, this wasn’t just a break from the classroom; it was service in action. Rooted in their school’s mission to give back, they took pride in knowing their hard work would grow a greener, healthier community for all.
Asphalt to Urban Forest
Fall planting season is in full swing, and volunteers like these are at the heart of our mission to transform lives and landscapes. Behind every tree sale and planting event are people donating time, energy, and muscle to advance our vision of a thriving workforce living on a healthy planet. With the help of the Cooper High School crew, we unloaded and sorted three semi-trucks packed with trees—no small feat! The students turned teamwork into a pep rally: carrying heavy conifers, cheering each other on, and even breaking into impromptu dance moves between loads. At one point, a chorus of “Let’s go Cooper, let’s go!” echoed through the lot, proving that when school spirit meets community service, amazing things can grow.
Why Volunteer?
Sure, volunteering is a great way to get out of the classroom—but for Cooper students, each service field trip is also a chance to learn, connect, and grow in new ways. What starts as a fun change of scenery often blossoms into something more meaningful. Student Lakarion shared, “Volunteering with Tree Trust is very wonderful, and it’s important because it helps give back to our community. You should do it too!” she shared with a grin. “We do a lot of volunteering, which is good because it can help with college. I think everyone should volunteer more—especially if they want to have a good résumé.” Her classmate, Pha-A-Thit, added, “I volunteer because I want to help out, get to know my classmates, and learn how to network with other people.”
For these students, giving back isn’t just about a field trip; it’s an opportunity to learn through service. And they’re already looking forward to returning next year to help again.
Community Impact
Tree Trust offers a variety of exciting opportunities for students ready to dig into service work that makes a real difference. From tree planting to tree sales, students gain hands-on experience in community service, build teamwork skills, and see the immediate impact of their efforts in their own communities. In just two hours, the young people from Robbinsdale Cooper High School transformed an empty city parking lot into an urban forest!
Schools looking to provide meaningful, service-learning experiences for their students are invited to partner with us. Together, we can help young people fulfill service requirements while growing connections, confidence, and a greener future for all. Learn more about how your school can get involved here.
