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ENLARGE
The Western Colorado Conservation Corps is part of a rich history of conservation-minded employment.
On March 21, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal to combat the growing unemployment rate of the Great Depression. Members of the CCC lived in on-site camps and earned a very modest living stipend, but were provided with uniforms, meals, and invaluable job training. With World War II, however, came a need for soldiers rather than workers and the CCC disbanded in 1942.
The spirit of the CCC lived on and became a model for a variety of conservation corps, such as the Partners Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC).
The WCCC was piloted in 1999 under the nonprofit group Partners of Mesa County. Since then, the WCCC has grown exponentially and moved last year into a new, more suitable building. WCCC is an employment and educational experience for a diverse population of youth ranging in age from 14 to 25.
Members have the opportunity to learn life skills, provide service to their community and conservation groups, as well as take on civic and environmental responsibilities designed to enrich their lives and their surroundings.
The WCCC's purpose is to serve youth in western Colorado through service by improving their community and gain valuable life experience for their success in the future. There are two important aspects to the program — education and employment.
By employing youth and young adults, they gain work ethic and job skills to achieve success in their individual careers. The WCCC uses conservation-based projects in the outdoors to improve the environment and surrounding community for long-term benefits.
Education is the other component to this program; corps members take part in four different types of education and training: Life Skills, Career Oriented, Academic and Environmental education.
Corps members are eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award which they can use for higher education. Members are able to use this award like a scholarship and apply it towards college tuition or pay back federal student loans.
In 2008, the WCCC awarded $46,000 in AmeriCorps Education Awards to local youth and young adults for higher education. Education is an important aspect to the program and we encourage youth and young adults to engage themselves in higher education. In 2008, the WCCC employed 130 youth and young adults in western Colorado.
Of the last eight youth leaving the WCCC successfully, seven have secured jobs with government agencies, and one of these youth became a business owner.
Interested in learning more about the WCCC?
Visit www.westerncoloradoconservationcorps.community.officelive.com and learn to get involved. The WCCC staff is available at 241-1027 and is happy to share the Corps' successes with you or invite you to stop by and see our successes firsthand. Also, consider joining us for our 10th Anniversary and successful completion of the 2009 Summer Crews Celebration BBQ, July 30, noon, at our building, 2818 1/2 North Ave. in Grand Junction.
Rusty Lloyd is director of the Western Colorado Conservation Corps.
On March 21, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt started the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal to combat the growing unemployment rate of the Great Depression. Members of the CCC lived in on-site camps and earned a very modest living stipend, but were provided with uniforms, meals, and invaluable job training. With World War II, however, came a need for soldiers rather than workers and the CCC disbanded in 1942.
The spirit of the CCC lived on and became a model for a variety of conservation corps, such as the Partners Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC).
The WCCC was piloted in 1999 under the nonprofit group Partners of Mesa County. Since then, the WCCC has grown exponentially and moved last year into a new, more suitable building. WCCC is an employment and educational experience for a diverse population of youth ranging in age from 14 to 25.
Members have the opportunity to learn life skills, provide service to their community and conservation groups, as well as take on civic and environmental responsibilities designed to enrich their lives and their surroundings.
The WCCC's purpose is to serve youth in western Colorado through service by improving their community and gain valuable life experience for their success in the future. There are two important aspects to the program — education and employment.
By employing youth and young adults, they gain work ethic and job skills to achieve success in their individual careers. The WCCC uses conservation-based projects in the outdoors to improve the environment and surrounding community for long-term benefits.
Education is the other component to this program; corps members take part in four different types of education and training: Life Skills, Career Oriented, Academic and Environmental education.
Corps members are eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award which they can use for higher education. Members are able to use this award like a scholarship and apply it towards college tuition or pay back federal student loans.
In 2008, the WCCC awarded $46,000 in AmeriCorps Education Awards to local youth and young adults for higher education. Education is an important aspect to the program and we encourage youth and young adults to engage themselves in higher education. In 2008, the WCCC employed 130 youth and young adults in western Colorado.
Of the last eight youth leaving the WCCC successfully, seven have secured jobs with government agencies, and one of these youth became a business owner.
Interested in learning more about the WCCC?
Visit www.westerncoloradoconservationcorps.community.officelive.com and learn to get involved. The WCCC staff is available at 241-1027 and is happy to share the Corps' successes with you or invite you to stop by and see our successes firsthand. Also, consider joining us for our 10th Anniversary and successful completion of the 2009 Summer Crews Celebration BBQ, July 30, noon, at our building, 2818 1/2 North Ave. in Grand Junction.
Rusty Lloyd is director of the Western Colorado Conservation Corps.
