Youth takes on job of replanting trees taken by tornado

He may be only 10 years old, but Finn Kvapil already knows what it means to give back to the Cadott community he lives in. Known affectionately as “Tree Boy” by those he’s touched with his service, Finn celebrated Arbor Day in a grand way this year.

Last summer, an F1 tornado ripped through a portion of Cadott, which Finn and his family witnessed first hand. At that time, the then nine year old, his little brother, Sawyer, then 5, mom, Megan, and dad, Joseph, were only a block from where the tornado lifted the roof off the Catholic church.

Although no lives were lost and no injuries reported to speak of, that roof wasn’t the only casualty in the storm. Finn’s neighbor, Mark Evanson, had some apple trees that he planted when he was about Finn’s age.

“And he lost them in the tornado,” said Finn.

Finn thought that was sad, that Mark had those trees all that time, so he wanted to raise money to buy his neighbor new apple trees. To do that, Finn set up a lemonade stand. From the first day, donations came rolling in, with a portion of the proceeds from selling lemonade, but most of it just from donations by people who loved the little boy’s mission.

Through his efforts, Finn raised over $300, more than enough to buy two little apple trees.

“And those two apple trees turned into 14 trees that we gave out to the community and lots of neighbors,” said Finn.

Finn says he is grateful to the community for their donation, as well Green Oasis Garden Center, who donated some expensive trees.

“Two of which, we planted in the park (West Riverview) yesterday,” said Finn.

The Kvapils also gave two apple trees to the elementary school, planting them together right out front, because they need a pollinating partner.

“I learned a lot of tree names,” said Finn.

Included in the trees planted around Cadott, are lilac, elm, maple, plum and linden.

Finn also went door-to-door, taking the trees to houses in his neighborhood that looked like they might need to replace trees from the storm.

“They kept trying to pay for them, they didn’t believe us when we told them they were already paid for,” said Megan.

Finn also offered to help plant the trees if they needed a strong young man to help and even went beyond that, offering to help construct a fence and do yard work, for an older couple.

“I could not be more proud,” said Megan of her son’s willingness to help. “Those trees are going to be there forever.”

Megan said it was amazing to see Finn step into the world of volunteer work and to see the faces of people they offered trees to.

“It made me feel really good to help the community,” said Finn.