When Daniel looks back at the summers he’s spent at Tree Trust, he thinks of a few things: the time he spent connecting with nature, learning new skills, and—most of all—working with his crew. He first joined Tree Trust’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in 2019, looking for a summer job in Minnesota. He hoped to earn a paycheck while working outside and, as he put it, “get a good workout in” at the same time.
His experience became so much more than that. Throughout his summers at Tree Trust, Daniel grew professionally and personally beyond his imagination. “It really changed my behavioral skills—I started trusting and opening up to people.” The connections he made to trusted adults, other motivated young people, and our natural environment shaped him into who he is today.
During his summers, Daniel and his crew completed some major environmental projects. They removed buckthorn, restored a stream bed, and even created a new walking path at Dodge Nature Center. “I’m most proud of the projects that we did. I didn’t think we’d get them done that fast, but if we said we were going to do something, then we did it.” Even during the middle of the summer, when the days were long and hot, Daniel was excited to work with his crew.
“Tree Trust prepared me for the outside world.”
At the end of the Summer Youth Employment Program, Daniel walked away with skills he’ll use throughout his lifetime. He also left with lifelong friends. He was nervous about meeting new people when he first started the program, but those fears quickly disappeared when he met his crew. “I still miss every single one of them. We still keep in contact to this day. I just basically made a new friend group.”
Daniel’s crew accomplished amazing projects together, and they also provided each other with support to grow and thrive. “We always motivated each other, which made us feel like part of a team. We really tried to build up each other’s confidence.”
Tree Trust is honored to work with hundreds of young people, like Daniel, year after year to transform lives and landscapes throughout the Twin Cities. And right now, we’re accepting applications for our Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides summer jobs for young people in Minnesota! We invite you to share this story with other young people, so they may have a transformative experience, just like Daniel.
