The Gordon Avenue library hosted a Teen Volunteer Fair from 2– 4 PM on Saturday, August 5th. Tim Maywalt, Kathy Nepote, Anne Benham, and Gregg Korbon staffed the table and provided information and Tootsie Roll Pops to local teens and parents seeking community volunteer opportunities. Tree walks, planting/pruning/invasive removal work parties, and tree classes were described and nine teens signed up for our email list. Several more individuals said they would visit the CATS website for future events, and would plan to attend those of interest.
A new, hands-on activity joined the usual tabling materials and seemed to capture the teen’s attention: a model, wire tree in need of pruning. Teens and parents who could identify four branches in need of pruning (of 12) received a prize – an individually wrapped prune. This was no ordinary prune, however. In teen campfire tradition, the prune is known as an ancient symbol of wisdom. Wrinkles are a sign of wisdom (especially in CATS members) and nothing has more wrinkles than a prune. As the Prune Song goes, “We have wrinkles on our face, but a pruney has them everyplace.” Many proud teens and parents left the CATS table holding high their prunes as signs of newly acquired Pruning Wisdom. A good time was had by all as our youth outreach continues.