Detroit Conservation Leadership Corps, a program that places teens into green summer jobs, is kicking off with Environmental Stewardship Day on July 21 at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo. The program is sponsored by Johnson Controls, Inc., Student Conservation Association and The Greening of Detroit.
Seven teams of students will spend the remainder of the summer planting, developing and maintaining trails, and removing invasive species. At Rouge Park, a group will work on building and expanding the mountain bike trail while at nearby Eliza Howell, a team will work on a trail that runs along the Rouge River. In Brightmoor, students will delve into vacant lot reclamation via sunflower planting, pocket park development, and the planting of orchards.
Two teams will work on Belle Isle, specifically in invasive species management, and at W.E.B. Dubois High School, an outdoor classroom will be constructed with benches, presentation space and gardens. And, finally, a final group will be placed at Detroiters Working For Environmental Justice in media development and green building projects.
On Environmental Stewardship Day, volunteers from Johnson Controls will work in the field alongside CLC students. "The kids are really looking forward to teaching older folks," says Evan Major, Detroit program manager for the Student Conservation Association. "They really get off on describing what they do and then showing them."
Sources: Jennifer Mattes, Johnson Controls and Evan Major, Student Conservation Assoc.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.