While most students go straight home or to sports practices after school, junior Ami Epstein works at North Star Christmas Trees in Chevy Chase, Md. during in the winter. From 5-8 p.m., Ami cuts down trees and directs traffic for the tree lot, a position that he shares with several other CESJDS students.
“It’s a fun, happy time of year. It’s a holiday time so people are in a pretty good cheer. If they come to the lot we make them happy, we pet the dog, tease the kids, and just be super helpful and friendly to them,” Co-Owner of North Star Christmas Trees Faith Rodell said. “And that’s what I find mostly in high schoolers, that they’re really happy and excited to be there, even some that don’t celebrate Christmas, they’re happy because everyone else is happy.”
Ami worked at North Star last year, giving customers a tour of the lawn and guiding them through different trees and price points. Once a customer picked out a tree, Ami would give the tree a fresh trim and tie it down to their car. Ami worked 12 hours per week last year plans to work 18 hours per week this winter.
Ami worked alongside his sister, senior Dalia Epstein. Dalia was the lot’s first ever female salesman. She started out as a tree prepper, helping unwrap newly shipped trees and putting them in the stands to sell. However, when there was a shortage of salesmen, Dalia stepped up and took the position.
“Working at a Christmas tree lot is a very unique experience; it’s different from most of the places you would work,” Ami said. “Most people don’t expect me to be working at a Christmas tree lot but I enjoy it because it’s really close by, convenient and you can make a lot of money.”
Rodell hires many high school students from the area to work on the Christmas tree farm, and offers a starting salary of $15 an hour, in addition to tips. She believes that high school students working at the lot helps build teamwork skills and make the experience better for customers.
“[High school students] are smart, enthusiastic and are really good with customers,” Rodell said. “And the customers really like being helped by young, bright men and women”
Senior Philip Rosen worked at North Star for one year during winter. He began with the job of guiding cars and moving trees, but moved up to the salesman position after a couple weeks in the position. Rosen has held many jobs throughout high school, including at a fishery and a robotics company, but he appreciated the “fun environment” at North Star.
Rosen said he didn’t find it odd to be Jewish while working at a Christmas tree farm, and embraced the opportunity to take part in the festive atmosphere.
“It’s similar to Jews getting Chinese food on Christmas,” Rosen said. “We aren’t celebrating, but we aren’t doing anything else, so we might as well [participate].”
North Stars offers high school students the opportunity to earn money and take on essential roles at the tree lot such as guiding customers and prepping trees.
“I’ve never really gone Christmas tree shopping before,” Ami said. “It’s interesting to see families come on Sundays as a whole experience to bring the family together. It’s nice to see everyone in a happy mood and excited.”
