Oneida Lake Watershed Youth Corps

As part of the Oneida Lake Watershed Education Initiative, a new Youth Corps will be developed for students residing in the Oneida Lake region. The mission of the Oneida Lake Watershed Youth Corps (OLWYC) is to empower youth through community service that fosters protection, restoration, preservation, and stewardship for Oneida Lake. Established through a collaboration of the Cornell University Biological Field Station at Shackelton Point, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, the OLWYC will be designed and guided by an advisory committee consisting of local watershed stakeholders, the OLYC Crew Leader, and youth advisory members. Youth Corps work projects are likely to involve topics such as stream restoration, fisheries management, wetland restoration, invasive aquatic plant management, community forestry, and green infrastructure techniques including the construction of rain gardens, green roofs, and rain barrels. Participation in the youth corps is voluntary, but provides interested students with unique, first-hand experiences working directly with water-quality, community-based projects. Youth corps members will receive training and learn life skills that better prepare them for both college studies, as well as the environmental job force.