b'25th Anniversary ReportGROWING A LOVE FOR NATURE, LANDSCAPE TECHNICIAN APPRENTICET wo years ago, if someone had told Juanenthusiasm for plants, mushrooms, and trees that his career aspirations would revolvewas contagious. Juans experience with SEEDS around conservation, he would havedeepened his connection with the natural laughed it off. Nature wasnt his thing. Heworld.joined EcoCorps mainly because it was nearby and seemed like a good way to gain workToday, Juans ambitions have evolved. He experience. Little did he know, this decisiondreams of moving out West to pursue more would transform his life. conservation work, with a focus on agriculture or landscape management, perhaps withJuans perspective began to shift as heanother corps program. From someone who spent his days immersed in the outdoors,once felt indifferent towards nature, Juan has surrounded by his fellow EcoCorps crewtransformed into a dedicated advocate for the members. While working together toenvironment, driven by a newfound passion to plant trees and build trails, his coworkersprotect and steward our natural world.6'