As winter settles into our area, AntFarm’s housing team is working with heightened awareness. The colder months bring additional stress for people already living close to the edge. Bills increase. Missed hours on a paycheck carry more weight. Transportation becomes more complicated. Firewood runs out sooner than expected. When maintaining basic necessities is already unstable, winter has a way of magnifying every vulnerability.
AntFarm’s housing services often involve a combination of outreach, temporary shelter support, rapid rehousing, and housing stabilization services. These programs are designed to help individuals move from unsafe or unstable situations into permanent housing as quickly as possible, while addressing barriers that may have prevented stability in the past.
Staying close to where he grew up and family became especially meaningful after the loss of his mother. “Being able to stay here matters,” he said. “This is my home.”
The change was immediate and tangible. “I’ve got heat. I’ve got a refrigerator. I’ve got a place to dry my clothes.”
In smaller communities, housing instability rarely affects just one person. Its impact reaches families, workplaces, and support networks across the community.
Looking Ahead
As winter continues, AntFarm’s housing team remains focused on meeting people where they are, using practical tools and steady follow-through. The stories shared by participants reflect hardship, resilience, and the difference stability can make. AntFarm approaches this work with the belief that supporting people and ensuring community members are cared for is something we can all prioritize.
Together, we sustain more than services; we sustain each other. If you would like to support this work or learn more, please visit:
https://antfarmyouthservices.com/donate-now/#sustaining-the-seasons If you or someone you know is in need of housing services or support, please call 503-668-7962.
A Sudden Shift in Funding. In early spring, AntFarm Youth Services learned that the funding which had powered its summer work experience program for nearly a decade had been cut. The news was sobering, but the response was immediate. Staff knew that if nothing was done, youth across Sandy, Estacada, and Molalla would lose a meaningful opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with their community. Rather than step back, AntFarm mobilized. Leaders, staff, and partners came together to reimagine the program on a smaller scale, ensuring that local youth could still experience mentorship, skill-building, and a sense of belonging.
Through support from AntFarm’s Workforce Development and Youth Services teams, as well as community partners like the Clackamas Workforce Partnership, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps, the Clackamas River Basin Council, the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce, Estacada High School and others, AntFarm kept the doors open to a program that has shaped the lives of hundreds of young people. What emerged was different than summers past, but no less impactful: a program centered on intentional teaching, strong mentorship, and youth voices that continue to carry forward AntFarm’s mission.
Mentorship at the Core. Olivia Solis, AntFarm’s Senior Manager of Youth Programs, emphasized the importance of keeping the program alive. She noted that even in a reduced form, the summer experience gave young people a chance to step up, build confidence, and work alongside trusted adults. “What we saw was youth taking ownership of their roles. They stepped into leadership, supported each other, and learned how to work through challenges together,” she said.
Shannon Grandy, Outdoor Programs Manager, echoed that sentiment, highlighting the value of mentorship within small crews. “Our team brought heart and energy every single day. These youth weren’t just completing tasks, they were finding their place in the community and learning that their voices matter,” she said.
Leadership Perspective. Neal Hatley, AntFarm’s Workforce Development and Deputy Executive Director, explained how the smaller scale of this year’s program allowed for deeper connections. “With fewer youth and sites to manage, we could be more intentional. It reduced some of the challenging logistics of past summers and created space for stronger relationships,” he reflected. “That kind of focus matters when you’re teaching skills that can stick with someone for life. This is the hardest, most chaotic, most rewarding thing we do each year. Seeing these youth engaged, growing, and making an impact? it’s why we’re here.”
Community-Based Learning. For Community Work Program Specialist Gabriella Peña, the summer was about much more than the tasks completed. She described the importance of shared lunches, when the recreation space filled with laughter, music, and conversation.
“Those moments of fun and connection were just as valuable as the skills we taught,” she said. “The youth came eager to learn, asked thoughtful questions, and left with a sense of belonging. They received mentoring and skill-building with open minds, and they left with lessons about community, communication, friendship, and perspective.”
Youth Voices. Youth participants themselves emphasized the program’s impact in different ways. Nevaeh G. reflected that the program helped those involved by pushing them to communicate with others while also helping the community by keeping spaces clean and safe. Luke D. summed up his experience simply, describing it as “old friends.”
River V. offered advice for future participants, encouraging them to meet as many people as possible, introduce themselves, and be brave enough to step outside their comfort zone. “You never know what you will learn or who you will click with,” she said. “Do your best and work hard.”
Their words echo the program’s broader goals: building skills while fostering communication, connection, and confidence.
Community Impact. Projects completed through City Beautification and CommunityConnect improved local spaces and connected generations. Homeowners and elders offered thanks, treats, and encouragement, while teens learned to take feedback, solve problems, and contribute. These visible results reinforced the message that young people are not just future leaders. They are essential to community well-being right now.
Moving Forward. While the summer looked different than in years past, AntFarm’s commitment to youth development never wavered. Smaller crews meant more intentional teaching, more mentorship, and more space for youth to be heard. The organization continues to seek sustainable funding to keep programs like this alive for the long term.
As Olivia reflected, “This program has always been about more than the work itself. It’s about preparing youth for whatever comes next, whether that’s a first job, further education, or stepping into a bigger role in their community.”
For nearly a decade, AntFarm’s summer program has been a cornerstone of youth development in Sandy, Estacada, Molalla, and surrounding areas. Despite the funding cut, the summer of 2025 proved that resilience, creativity, and community support can still create meaningful opportunities for youth. Most importantly, the youth who showed up left with new skills, new confidence, and stronger connections to each other and their community.
With lower snowpack across much of Oregon and early signs of dry summer conditions, wildfire preparedness is already part of the conversation in many rural communities. On the west side of the Cascades, spring rain can still influence how fire season unfolds. But when snowpack is lower, preparation becomes even more important.
In Sandy and surrounding areas, AntFarm’s Community Wildfire Defense Program is not waiting to see what summer brings. Backed primarily by funding through Oregon Conservation Corps via the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, along with workforce development support routed through regional partners, the program is training crews, expanding service areas, and reducing wildfire risk across rural Clackamas County.
“The goal is twofold,” said Logan Hancock, AntFarm’s Community Wildfire Defense Program Manager. “We’re building fire-adapted communities, and we’re developing skilled workers ready to enter forestry, wildfire mitigation, and related fields.”
She also found herself drawn to the mechanical side of the job. “Now I’m sharpening chains and cleaning saws. I really like doing that.” Becoming familiar with equipment maintenance gave her confidence she had not developed in previous roles.
Michelle Richardson, CWDP Assessment Coordinator, works directly with homeowners to evaluate risk and provide practical recommendations. She says many people are surprised by how small details can make a significant difference.
Public funding for wildfire mitigation carries accountability requirements, including documenting structures impacted, skills developed, and measurable community benefit. That structure ensures public investment produces tangible results.
In a region where wildfire is a recurring reality, preparation is not alarmism. It is stewardship. Through thoughtful public investment and local leadership, AntFarm’s Community Wildfire Defense Program is strengthening both the landscape and the next generation prepared to care for it.
Summer 2025 marked a peak season for YouthCore crews, filled with steady work, community partnerships, and the kind of growth that happens when purpose meets opportunity. Across the region, youth and young adults ages 14 to 24 cleared brush, maintained trails, supported events, and helped property owners care for the places they love. For these young workers, it is more than a paycheck. It is a chance to gain confidence, learn professionalism, and serve their community with pride.
As fall settles in, YouthCore crews remain on the job. The program offers affordable, reliable outdoor services year-round, including property cleanup, brush removal, storm preparation, garden support, and restoration work.
