We are a group of students (ages 10-18) led by Lynn Robertson (Construction I, II, & III Teacher at LJI) and Dave Lee (Former Houston Business Owner- Life-time Backpacker- Youth Volunteer). We started this program in 2016 because we saw a link between personnel shortage in the National Forests, State and National Parks and the need for younger students to have the opportunity to do great things for the community while learning life-long work skills/ethics.

In the beginning we were associated with a school district, and started with a generic club name. However, we knew we wanted the kids to name the program. After two weekend trips, the students came up with our awesome name when they realized how dirty we had gotten after a hard day’s work. The HOBO's name idea was born and within a very short time it was refined and adopted by the kids to Helping Others Before Ourselves. As time went on it became very apparent that becoming an entity beyond association with a school district was needed so that kids from other school districts, as well as existing kids that had moved outside the school district could participate in the program. In 2019 we started the process to become an independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit to open opportunities for kids outside the affiliated school district.... then Covid-19 happened. After much patience and delays, we are our own non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and not affiliated with any school district: H.O.B.O.’s Helping Others Before Ourselves Inc.

Through time the program has evolved in scope and practice, however our purpose has not waivered. We have acquired many assets and equipment that allow the group to tackle and accomplish many projects ranging from simple groundwork and trail maintenance to full blown construction projects. The consistent goal is to provide challenging opportunities for the kids, allow them to learn, make mistakes, and grow. Our overall purpose is to build the work ethic, knowledge, and skills to succeed at whatever project they tackle becoming prepared, valuable, and productive young adults.