Dear Friends,
Well, this certainly isn’t the summer that any of us had planned.
I don’t know about you, but right now I am feeling a greater sense of connection to the community, to friends and strangers near and far, and to our partners around the state and the country. Maybe because we are keeping our distance, we are working harder to stay close.
That definitely applies to the connection between the 14 independent conservation corps in California. We have relied on one another so much since the start of the pandemic, and we are proud to lift one another up and celebrate everyone’s hard work.
Check out this video to get a sense of just how powerful this network is around our precious state.
The Corps is connected to so many amazing partners. Even when we can’t gather in person, we want to celebrate all we have accomplished together. That’s why we are joining our long-time friends at the National Forest Foundation to celebrate National Forest Week.
There are 193 million acres of forests and grasslands in the US managed by the USDA Forest Service. The National Forest Foundation leads forest conservation efforts and promotes responsible recreation, and they have included the Corps on some amazing efforts. We work with them primarily on restoration projects in the beautiful Angeles National Forest.
Right now, our crews are working hard to clear dry brush and potential fire fuel in the Angeles and still cleaning up after past wildfires. We are also working on a technical construction project to replace restroom facilities in ANF campgrounds with more eco-friendly options.
Getting every Corpsmember out of the city and into a forest at least once is one of my personal goals. On a recent extended hiking trip with my family, I couldn’t leave behind thoughts of the strenuous journey young people commit to when they join the Corps. As I offered my daughter a helping hand to reach a particularly challenging 12,000 ft. pass, I recommitted us all to providing the same helping hand to Corpsmembers as they scale their personal mountains. I hope you don’t mind, but I am committing you, too.
So, this week join us in celebrating National Forest Week with some fun virtual activities that the Foundation is offering and follow our social media channels for more views of our time in the woods.
Then get ready to climb another mountain with us.
Yours in service and gratitude,
Wendy Butts
CEO, LA Conservation Corps