1.3 Million For Yosemite Youth Programs
Yosemite, CA — Yosemite Conservancy will provide $1.3 million to fund Yosemite’s many Youth Programs.
This is the first time the Yosemite Conservancy is funding the Parks in Focus program that connects low-income, at-risk and under-served middle school students to nature by combining hands-on camping and photography skills with lessons on ecology, geology and environmental stewardship.
There are nine new and established Youth in Yosemite programs that will benefit from $1.3 million provided by Yosemite Conservancy.
2012 Youth In Yosemite programs are:
- Adventure to Leadership: Youth Development Program with ARC
- Junior Ranger Program Expanded
- Parks In Focus: Youth Photography Program
- Restoring Popular Climbing Trails
- Teens Connect to Yosemite through WildLink
- Tuolumne and Merced Watershed Trails Rehabilitation by CCC Crews
- Wilderness Restoration with SCA Crews
- WildLink Alumni Explore Careers in Yosemite
- Yosemite Leadership Program Summer Internship
- Youth Crews (YCC) Restore Campgrounds, Trails and Habitat
According to Yosemite Conservancy president Mike Tollefson the nine youth programs provide 27 thousand children with the “Yosemite experience”.
Tollefson says, “Building the next generation of park stewards is the goal of Youth in Yosemite programs.” He notes that, “For some, these programs make it possible for participants to experience their first trip to the park or their first hike, and for others the programs affect educational, career and life choices. Providing funding for these programs opens a whole new world for young people of all ages.”
The National Park Service and several nonprofit organizations conduct the programs, which involve the entire range of youth development from ages seven to the early twenties.
In 2012, the California Conservation Corps, Student Conservation Association and Youth Conservation Corps will improve more than 100 miles of trails, install bear-proof food lockers and rehabilitate 400 inappropriate campsites.
Additional details on Youth in Yosemite programs are at www.yosemiteconservancy.org/youth-yosemite
