This past fall, World Salmon Council was privileged to continue our partnership with Youth Ecology Corps for a third season.
Youth Ecology Corps lost its federal funding this year and could not continue to operate its program past the fall. WSC is extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked with YEC for a final season, and we documented the experience in a short video.
Youth Ecology Corps was a career-readiness program operated though Metro and Mt. Hood Community College that provided valuable experience in environmental restoration and natural resource management job skills for at-risk youth. Each year of the partnership, WSC provided training to YEC crew members to teach field stations on Salmon Watch field trips with Walt Morey Middle School.
Through Salmon Watch and other activities, Youth Ecology Corps crew members built leadership skills and confidence, gained knowledge about natural resource career fields, and developed skills to help them enter those fields.
Trevor, YEC crew member, says, “Through the entirely of YEC and Salmon Watch I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable in a leadership role. It was really cool just realizing that I was a lot more capable than I thought I was.”
YEC crew members also served as valuable role models for Walt Morey Middle School students, who were excited to interact with youth educators that demonstrated enthusiasm for science and nature.
Walt Morey teacher, Peggy Potter, says, “I really enjoy having the Youth Ecology Corps teach our students, because they’re younger, they’re toward the kids’ age, and they’re students themselves. I feel like they bring to the table the language of the kids, the attitude of the kids. While they’re younger, they can be really serious educators at the same time.”
WSC’s partnership with YEC has been a valuable part of our ongoing efforts to provide leadership development and outdoor education opportunities to underserved student populations.
WSC recognizes that there is a disparity in access to nature and outdoor education, career readiness training, and various opportunities that prepare students to enter natural resource management, environmental and STEM fields. Through partnerships like this one, WSC aims to contribute to closing this gap and promoting equity and inclusion in these important career fields.
We hope you enjoy the video, and we give our deep thanks to the Youth Ecology Corps crew members and staff who have been part of the Salmon Watch program through the years.
Watch the video HERE.
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