On a prairie where trees are often sparse, volunteers spent Friday morning planting something that will grow for decades: a stronger sense of home.
Volunteers equipped with shovels, gloves, and determination from across Minot Air Force Base joined community partners and volunteers from Chevron Corporation to plant 82 trees throughout base housing neighborhoods. The project was made possible by Chevron’s $20,000 donation, and it is the result of a year-long effort to restore tree coverage and enhance the places military families call home.
For many Airmen and families stationed at Minot, the familiar trees and greenery of their hometowns are hundreds of miles away. Some come from communities lined with trees, shaded parks, and leafy neighborhoods. Arriving on the open plains of North Dakota can be a stark difference.
“Trees can give them that sense of home,” said Dr. Lynda LaFond, natural resources manager with the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron. She stated that trees provide shade, beauty, and familiar surroundings, especially for families who have moved far from where they grew up.
The trees were planted near playgrounds, community spaces, and housing areas where children play, families gather, and neighbors connect. Over time, their branches will provide shade during summer afternoons and shelter from the wind, serving the residents of Minot AFB in more ways than one.
The idea originated through the resident council after concerns were raised about dead trees that had to be removed because of age, storm damage, and pests. Residents wanted to see greenery return to their neighborhoods, creating a more welcoming environment for current families and future generations.
This project wasn’t something that one group could’ve accomplished alone. “It took partnerships, volunteers, funding, and a lot of effort to get it done,” said Samantha Mendoza, resident advocate for Minot AFB housing.
Beyond the benefits the trees provide for residents, there are many benefits that they provide for the environment as well. Sixteen different tree species were selected to increase biodiversity and promote wildlife.
At the end of the day, the most important part of the project was the community. Volunteers worked side by side and watched as their hard work transformed the bare patches of ground around the base. The effort brought together people from across the installation, all of which were united by a shared goal.
The trees themselves were carefully placed throughout the housing area, with some positioned to help reduce drifting snow while others were selected to provide future shade and beautification.
For Jesse Cahoon, operations director for Minot AFB housing, the project represents something larger than landscaping. “When residents look at these trees years from now, I hope they see that people cared enough to invest in their community,” Cahoon said.
Years from now, today’s volunteers may be stationed elsewhere, and many of the children playing beneath these trees will have moved on to new homes and adventures. Yet the trees will remain, growing taller with each passing season.
Their roots will spread beneath the soil as their branches stretch towards the sky. And for generations of military families who pass through Minot Air Force Base, they will stand as a reminder that a community came together to make this place feel a little more like home.
