Cornell Cooperative Extension and Youth Corps

Corps are a proven model of youth development that are versatile, cost-effective programs that empower young people to restore communities and conserve environments through service, while also developing employment and citizenship skills.

Since the start of the Onondaga Earth Corps in 2005, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County has collaborated with numerous community partners to bring the community and environmental benefits of youth corps to Onondaga County.

Onondaga Earth Corps
CCE Onondaga is collaborating with the Southside Neighborhood Action Group (SNAG), Syracuse Interfaith Housing CDC, and the Gifford Foundation to run crews on the Southside and Near West Side of Syracuse. Youth serve their community through tree planting, tree care, garden and other green infrastructure projects. Each summer, participants also complete “youth-led projects” of their own design.

Urban Ag Corps
CCE Onondaga is collaborating with Jubilee Homes and SUNY-ESF to run an urban agriculture corps of youth that will grow and maintain a community garden and sell fresh vegetables at Jubilee Homes Urban Delight Farm Stands.

Oneida Lake Youth Corps
CCE Onondaga is collaborating with the Cornell University Biological Field Station at Shakelton Point to start a volunteer youth corps on Oneida Lake beginning in 2010.

For a detailed listing of current and prior youth corps programming in PDF format, click here.