Contributing Writer - Zana Holden-Gatling, Summer Crew Team Member
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| Team-building exercise on the first day of Summer Crew. |
We learned so many things in our first week of Summer Crew that it was almost overwhelming. Even the first day was a lot to take in. The staff explained the mission of Casey Trees, urban tree canopy goals (going from a 35% canopy rate in D.C. to 40% by 2035), safety procedures, responsibilities of Summer Crew members and opportunities for career development. I'll admit I was concerned - could I handle all of this information?
The next day we had an introduction to tree species identification. I felt like I didn't know the answers to any of the questions and I wondered how I would manage to keep up. It became clear that I would have to stay focused and determined.
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| Learning the basics in orientation. |
Arriving at the tree yard on the third day, my confidence was up and I began to feel more comfortable in my role on the Summer Crew team. Despite getting my shoes and clothes soaked, things started to look up. On the first day I couldn't tell a silver maple from a red maple or a sweet gum from a black gum, but I'm on my way to becoming a tree ID expert. I now feel like I can be there to help out my fellow team members. I'm excited to learn more about job responsibility, career development and most importantly how to care for our city's trees.
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