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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Youth and young adults enrolled in the Western Colorado Conservation Corps of Partners learn practical skills like first aid, CPR, personal finance, and wilderness and outdoors ethics in their new classroom at 2818 1/2 North Ave.
Western Colorado Conservation Corps moved into its new home a year ago, but its capital campaign to secure financing for the 5,000-square-foot building is ongoing.
Tuesday, the Grand Junction Lions Club presented Mesa County Partners Director Joe Higgins and WCCC Director Rusty Lloyd with a check for $20,000 toward the purchase of the $800,000 building.
“This really helps us move forward,” Higgins said. “The Coors Family Foundation (in Denver), earlier this month made a challenge that they would donate $80,000 to us if we could raise $80,000 in the community. This will go toward that matching grant.”
The conservation corps had grown out of its former 2,000-square-foot home on South Avenue, Lloyd said, making it difficult to train students as well as provide office space for staff, and store camping gear and equipment for the corps' various projects.
Western Colorado Conservation Corps is an AmeriCorps program that offers conservation-minded employment and education for people ages 14 to 25. WCCC crews work on a variety of projects including the construction of trails, removal of invasive tamarisk trees, as well as fire fuels mitigation at Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa, Black Canyon, and other Western Slope natural areas in Mesa, Montrose, Delta and Gunnison counties.
The organization focuses on four areas of education: environmental, academic, life skills, and career orientation.
“We help kids get connected to where they want to be,” Lloyd said.
Many former students have landed careers with the Department of Wildlife, the National Park Service, and wildland firefighting, Lloyd said.
Western Colorado Conservation Corps was one of 19 nonprofit groups awarded $135,000 in grants this year by the Lions Club. The grant money comes from proceeds of the club's annual carnival and parade held in February.
Partners was chosen not only because of the great things it provides to local youth, but also because of the timing of its project — acquisition of the new building, said Denise Richardson, Lions' Club community betterment chairperson.
“It's all for investments in our community — things that will last,” Richardson said.
Other donations toward the building's purchase have come from foundations, other nonprofit organizations, and individuals, including some of the youth themselves.
WCCC belongs to the Colorado Youth Corps Association, an organization serving more than 1,000 youth and young adults in Colorado.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
Western Colorado Conservation Corps moved into its new home a year ago, but its capital campaign to secure financing for the 5,000-square-foot building is ongoing.
Tuesday, the Grand Junction Lions Club presented Mesa County Partners Director Joe Higgins and WCCC Director Rusty Lloyd with a check for $20,000 toward the purchase of the $800,000 building.
“This really helps us move forward,” Higgins said. “The Coors Family Foundation (in Denver), earlier this month made a challenge that they would donate $80,000 to us if we could raise $80,000 in the community. This will go toward that matching grant.”
The conservation corps had grown out of its former 2,000-square-foot home on South Avenue, Lloyd said, making it difficult to train students as well as provide office space for staff, and store camping gear and equipment for the corps' various projects.
Western Colorado Conservation Corps is an AmeriCorps program that offers conservation-minded employment and education for people ages 14 to 25. WCCC crews work on a variety of projects including the construction of trails, removal of invasive tamarisk trees, as well as fire fuels mitigation at Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa, Black Canyon, and other Western Slope natural areas in Mesa, Montrose, Delta and Gunnison counties.
The organization focuses on four areas of education: environmental, academic, life skills, and career orientation.
“We help kids get connected to where they want to be,” Lloyd said.
Many former students have landed careers with the Department of Wildlife, the National Park Service, and wildland firefighting, Lloyd said.
Western Colorado Conservation Corps was one of 19 nonprofit groups awarded $135,000 in grants this year by the Lions Club. The grant money comes from proceeds of the club's annual carnival and parade held in February.
Partners was chosen not only because of the great things it provides to local youth, but also because of the timing of its project — acquisition of the new building, said Denise Richardson, Lions' Club community betterment chairperson.
“It's all for investments in our community — things that will last,” Richardson said.
Other donations toward the building's purchase have come from foundations, other nonprofit organizations, and individuals, including some of the youth themselves.
WCCC belongs to the Colorado Youth Corps Association, an organization serving more than 1,000 youth and young adults in Colorado.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
