Veterans-Youth Conservation Corps Partnership
Since our founding in 2007, the Conservation Lands Foundation has had great success in protecting and expanding the National Conservation Lands. The third part of our mission—the restoration of these great places—is now getting new focus and attention from our staff, board and funders. In December 2012, we were joined by nearly 100 supporters in Denver to kick off our new public-private collaboration that unites the BLM, conservation corps, private businesses and veterans groups to address the restoration needs of the National Conservation Lands. This partnership provides veterans and youth corps with employment and training opportunities working to restore and maintain the National Conservation Lands. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper attended the event and addressed the guests. He said,
“When you take Colorado youth corps, tie them in with veterans, mix that with the Bureau of Land Management staff, then you begin to get a pretty rich soup. Mix in some private industry funders to provide resources or donations, add the Conservation Lands Foundation. Now it’s seasoned, now it’s got heat and energy.”
Royal Bank of Canada, with an office in Denver, became the first corporate partner to join that “heat and energy.” Their contribution has helped place the first Youth Corps crew on the ground in Colorado’s McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, working to improve habitat on a stretch of the Colorado River. More projects are planned for areas in the National Conservation Lands in California, Nevada and Arizona.
