Post by pinglover on Mar 30, 2007 22:10:02 GMT
Anyone live anywhere near Milwaukee or Chicago who might be in a position to go with me?
I received this yesterday in response to my willingness to create programming for them. I have removed personally identifiable information as well as identifiable location information from the correspondence to me which would be made available to anyone who expressed a sincere desire to join me-
Youth Conservation Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Challenging Youth…Changing Perceptions
March 29, 2007
Ms. xxx:
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a 501 (c) (3) organization with the mission of developing youth and young adults into productive citizens, working, participating and living in xxx County, xxx. YCC has been supporting these services for over two decades and currently has four programs. The programs include the YCC Summer Program for 16-18 year old high school students, YCC YouthBuild xxx for 16-24 year old ex-offenders, the Americorps American Red Cross Program for 16-24 year old at-risk young adults, and the Americorps Environmental Program for 16-24 year old at-risk young adults.
Within the environmental program, youth receive general education along with curriculum that focuses on the environment. Students are given the opportunity to receive their GED, life skills and career development, and academic certifications. These certifications include:
Finance Certification
CPR/First Aid Certification
Computer Certification
Blue Print to Democracy in America/Civic Engagement Certification
Environment based certifications:
YCC Americorps Environment Certification
Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Certification
US Forest Service S-130
US Forest Service S-190
Chainsaw Training Certification
Herbicide Applicator Certification
Invasive Watch Program Certification
Another large focus of YCC is community outreach/service. Members of the environmental program focus their outreach on environmentally based tasks. Such as:
Clearing land of invasive species
River bed restoration
Prescribed fire management
Habitat restoration
Species re-introductions
The Americorps Environment Program has a total of xxx members that hail from xxx, xxx, xxx, xxx. The members come from low-income families and several are ex-offenders. Most are looking to obtain their GED, as they dropped out or were kicked out of high school.
Above all else the youth that are part of the Americorps Environment Program are looking to improve their lives, the lives of their families, and the lives of those in their communities. They have come to Youth Conservation Corps for help to realize their aspirations.
It was a pleasure speaking with you! YCC looks forward to a potential partnership and we appreciate the interest that you have expressed in our organization.
I was actually contacted by them several months ago but had to table any volunteer activities for a bit as I was spread a little bit too thin to respond to them. After having spoken with this organization in depth this past week, I have a better understanding of their needs. Simply stated, people to work with the kids who are willing to set aside their past to focus on their future. I additionally learned they are attempting to purchase property of their own. I committed to providing them with the materials to create a 300 gallon bog capable of accommodating indigenous wetland species to include Sarracenia purpurea which would be native to this area. There are 8 youth actively involved in wetlands conservation who have all expressed an interest in carnivorous plants. It was my intent to purchase a VFT for each youth to take home. From there I wanted to discuss the biology and spread of Lythrum salicaria as well as methods to control, manage, and eradicate it with an emphasis on biological controls- specifically Galerucella spp. The programming I have in mind would entail one 2 hour session at their base as well as three 2-hour field trips. That's 2 hours spanning 4 different days. These kids are most certainly not throw aways. I believe they have tremendous potential regardless of their past crimes. This program has enjoyed tremendous success in the past and has a great track record of producing productive citizens.
Should anyone be interested in learning more, please contact me via pm. I'm going to be up front with you, several of these kids have had serious issues and they are somewhat leery of disingenuous adults. If you don't feel you would be comfortable working with this type of youth, they would know it and would respond accordingly which would not be productive. I am a tiny middle aged married mom and I feel comfortable around them. That being said, I look forward to anyone who might be interested in enriching the lives of disadvantaged youth by sharing their time with them. I will pay for any products personally for the programming so it's not money I'm looking for.
I received this yesterday in response to my willingness to create programming for them. I have removed personally identifiable information as well as identifiable location information from the correspondence to me which would be made available to anyone who expressed a sincere desire to join me-
Youth Conservation Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Challenging Youth…Changing Perceptions
March 29, 2007
Ms. xxx:
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a 501 (c) (3) organization with the mission of developing youth and young adults into productive citizens, working, participating and living in xxx County, xxx. YCC has been supporting these services for over two decades and currently has four programs. The programs include the YCC Summer Program for 16-18 year old high school students, YCC YouthBuild xxx for 16-24 year old ex-offenders, the Americorps American Red Cross Program for 16-24 year old at-risk young adults, and the Americorps Environmental Program for 16-24 year old at-risk young adults.
Within the environmental program, youth receive general education along with curriculum that focuses on the environment. Students are given the opportunity to receive their GED, life skills and career development, and academic certifications. These certifications include:
Finance Certification
CPR/First Aid Certification
Computer Certification
Blue Print to Democracy in America/Civic Engagement Certification
Environment based certifications:
YCC Americorps Environment Certification
Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Certification
US Forest Service S-130
US Forest Service S-190
Chainsaw Training Certification
Herbicide Applicator Certification
Invasive Watch Program Certification
Another large focus of YCC is community outreach/service. Members of the environmental program focus their outreach on environmentally based tasks. Such as:
Clearing land of invasive species
River bed restoration
Prescribed fire management
Habitat restoration
Species re-introductions
The Americorps Environment Program has a total of xxx members that hail from xxx, xxx, xxx, xxx. The members come from low-income families and several are ex-offenders. Most are looking to obtain their GED, as they dropped out or were kicked out of high school.
Above all else the youth that are part of the Americorps Environment Program are looking to improve their lives, the lives of their families, and the lives of those in their communities. They have come to Youth Conservation Corps for help to realize their aspirations.
It was a pleasure speaking with you! YCC looks forward to a potential partnership and we appreciate the interest that you have expressed in our organization.
I was actually contacted by them several months ago but had to table any volunteer activities for a bit as I was spread a little bit too thin to respond to them. After having spoken with this organization in depth this past week, I have a better understanding of their needs. Simply stated, people to work with the kids who are willing to set aside their past to focus on their future. I additionally learned they are attempting to purchase property of their own. I committed to providing them with the materials to create a 300 gallon bog capable of accommodating indigenous wetland species to include Sarracenia purpurea which would be native to this area. There are 8 youth actively involved in wetlands conservation who have all expressed an interest in carnivorous plants. It was my intent to purchase a VFT for each youth to take home. From there I wanted to discuss the biology and spread of Lythrum salicaria as well as methods to control, manage, and eradicate it with an emphasis on biological controls- specifically Galerucella spp. The programming I have in mind would entail one 2 hour session at their base as well as three 2-hour field trips. That's 2 hours spanning 4 different days. These kids are most certainly not throw aways. I believe they have tremendous potential regardless of their past crimes. This program has enjoyed tremendous success in the past and has a great track record of producing productive citizens.
Should anyone be interested in learning more, please contact me via pm. I'm going to be up front with you, several of these kids have had serious issues and they are somewhat leery of disingenuous adults. If you don't feel you would be comfortable working with this type of youth, they would know it and would respond accordingly which would not be productive. I am a tiny middle aged married mom and I feel comfortable around them. That being said, I look forward to anyone who might be interested in enriching the lives of disadvantaged youth by sharing their time with them. I will pay for any products personally for the programming so it's not money I'm looking for.