FSG News:
SANTA FE — The Forest Stewards Guild’s (FSG) Forest Stewards Youth Corps (FSYC) summer program recently kicked off with a successful three-day training at Glorieta Adventure Camps in Glorieta.
Twenty-four summer crew members and trainers, ages 15-26, attended this training, where they gained knowledge on ecology, natural history, and natural resource management, as well as participated in a mile long trail improvement project with Glorieta staff.
Following this training, crews returned to their perspective districts, including Coyote, Jemez Pueblo, Las Vegas, Mountainair and Mt. Taylor. Over the next five weeks, the five crews will work on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Pueblo of Jemez lands learning from natural resource professionals while they accomplish important conservation projects.
The FSYC program is a work-earn-learn program for young people to help restore New Mexico’s forests and watersheds. Throughout the summer, program participants learn the fundamentals of forest and fire ecology, receive on-the-job training and college credit, and earn a salary while completing projects on National Forest and Pueblo of Jemez lands.
“Watching crews work and learn together through on-the-ground resource management is inspiring” said Cora Stewart, the Forest Stewards Guild Southwest Field Coordinator, “Not only do crew members gain experience in conservation, doing projects like wildlife habitat surveys, range monitoring, archeological preservation, and trail maintenance, but they also learn how to work on a team, and develop life-long interpersonal skills.”
For more than 20 years, the Guild, the Pueblo of Jemez, and the USFS provided youth training and an introduction to natural resource management through the successful FSYC program. During a typical year, crews complete more than 12,000 hours of natural resource management projects and over 2,000 hours of educational sessions. More than 750 rural youth went through the program to date, many of whom attained higher education degrees and have successful careers.
The 2022 program is made possible through financial support from the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission, the Cibola and Santa Fe National Forests, the Taos Ski Valley Foundation, and many others. The program is a success due to the strong partnership between the Guild, the Pueblo of Jemez, and Region 3 of the USDA Forest Service. Summer crews are stationed at the Coyote, Las Vegas, Mt. Taylor and Mountainair Ranger Districts as well as at the Pueblo of Jemez Natural Resource Department.
About the Forest Stewards Guild
The Forest Stewards Guild is a national organization of foresters, natural resource professionals, and supporters that practice and promote ecologically, economically, and socially responsible forestry to benefit forest ecosystems and the human communities dependent upon them. www.forestguild.org/fsyc