Santa Fe Youth Conservation Corps
¡YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Conservation Corps is dedicated to restoring and preserving the environment. This program not only helps young people to respect and protect the environment in which they live, but also to develop job skills that will help them succeed in the future. YW operates a paid, youth-employment-training program that offers at-risk youth the opportunity to learn responsible work habits, earn a living wage and a regular paycheck, attend on-site GED coursework and become leaders in their community. Since 2001, YW has employed and trained over 120 youth and young adults in the care and restoration of the river. Some of ¡YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Corps' most recent projects include:
- ¡YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Corps is working, in part, with the Santa Fe National Forest in a unique educational venue under the direction of Donald Serrano and educators of the Espanola Ranger District to deliver restoration work in the Jemez Mountains for the Polvadera Creek Ripiarian Project. Youth are working to improve water quality, to enhance bio-diversity, to improve habitat, and to create limitations for current ATV access.
- ¡YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Corps is also working with the City of Santa Fe for river restorations to install natural erosion control structures for riverbank stabilization, to remove debris, and to remove invasive species and plant native trees, grasses and herbaceous species.
- Similarly, ¡YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Corps is working with Santa Fe County on riparian habitat improvements and rehabilitation of a County section of the Santa Fe River.
- ¡YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Corps, in partnership, with the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority, is working to beautify and to improve the landscapes in low-income housing communities and to carry out rehabilitation work in the housing area community centers, to include carpentry and construction trades skill work.
- ¡YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Corps, in partnership, with the Santa Fe Public Schools is dedicated to installing xeriscaped landscapes into designated schoolyards. Youth are working to plant native and drought tolerant species. Work with the Santa Fe Public Schools also includes indoor facility improvements, specifically wall patching, painting, and other repairs necessary needed to improve conditions for children.
- YouthWorks! Santa Fe Youth Corps is working to upgrade the grounds of the Santa Fe Mountain Center, a Tesuque-based outdoor experiential learning center. The property will be enhanced through xeriscaping, debris removal, tree pruning, and repair of eroded river banks, meeting grounds, and outdoor training sites.