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07 OREGON YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS

ANNUAL REPORT

OREGON YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS

ANNUAL REPORT

OYCC creates meaningful opportunities for youth

through significant resource projects that enhance

the Oregon Community.

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OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

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MESSAGE FROM OYCC

We are pleased to present theOregon Youth Conservation Corps’(OYCC) 2006-07 Annual Report.This report documents OYCC’ssuccess in building partnershipsacross Oregon that meet thegrowing needs of our youth andcommunities.

The Oregon Youth Conservation Corps was created by the 1987 OregonLegislature to emulate the federal Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) of the1930’s. The goals of youth employment and enhancement of the environment arevery similar. Work skills learned, teamwork developed, and lasting friendshipscreated are integral byproducts of OYCC service, just as with the CCCs.

The past two years have produced dramatic progress in the number of youthserved. We have grown our programs, maintained services to local partners,prioritized fund raising and increased partnerships.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon State Marine Board andOregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development havecontinued their crucial support. Other major funding sources include: US Fish &Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, US Bureau of Land Management, ResourceAdvisory Committees, County Commissioners, local government entities, theNational Forest Foundation and non-profit foundations.

We are proud of OYCC’s accomplishments for Oregon and pleased to assureprospective partners that every dollar invested goes directly to support youthemployment, education and nurture the environment we hold so dear.

John Asher Doug DenningProgram Director Program Administrator

Oregon Youth Conservation Corps Oregon Youth Conservation Corps

John Asher, left and Doug Denning, right.

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“The workprogram has donea lot for me. Ittaught me how todo a lot of stuffand was fun.”

“I have grown somuch and thecrew made mevery confident inthe workforce.”

OREGON YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS

Oregon Department of Community Collegesand Workforce Development

255 Capitol Street, NE, Salem OR 97310Tel: 503-378-8648 • Fax: 503-378-3365

http://www.oregon.gov/CCWD/OYCC/

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Oregon Youth Conservation Corps builds on the strong connectionsbetween positive work experiences, work skills, personal responsibility,

commitment to education and future employment for Oregon’s youth.

OYCC was established by the Oregon Legislature in 1987 to:■ protect, conserve, rehabilitate and improve the natural, historical

and cultural resources of Oregon; and■ increase educational, training and employment opportunities for

youth by improving work skills, instilling work ethic andincreasing employability

Youth corps members work on projects such as:

■ Construction of trails, boat docks, disability access ramps, fencesand picnic tables

■ Restoration and preservation of wetlands, stream banks,endangered species, wildlife habitat and historical and cultural sites

■ Maintenance of all of the above after wind, floods, fire or normal use■ Water quality testing, removal of non-native plants and weeds,

watershed work, nurseries management, landscaping, mapping,surveying, recycling and other community stewardship projects

Youth who have strong work skills and positive goals for education andemployment are more likely to achieve two important Oregon Benchmarks:completion of high school and avoidance of juvenile crime delinquency.

OYCC’s programs include:■ Summer Conservation Corps (SCC)■ Community Stewardship Corps (CSC)■ Youth River Stewards■ Line in the Sand

OYCC has a nine-member Advisory Committee, three members appointedby the Governor, three appointed by the Senate President and threeappointed by the Speaker of the House.

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“If not for thisprogram, I probablywould not come toschool next year”.

“We have funand learn lotsof new thingson the job. Youmeet newpeople andwork on yourjob skills.”

“The teachers always understand and work with you so you can graduate on

time.”

“OYCC gaveme hope forthe future.Now I thinkI mightgraduate.”

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SUMMER CONSERVATION CORPS

The Summer Conservation Corps (SCC) is OYCC’s largest program,with a local program in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. It provides work

crews throughout Oregon to complete projects such as trail constructionand maintenance, landscaping, planting, wetlands/bank/stream restoration,invasive species (weed) removal, and construction projects.

During the summer of 2006, SCC employed 702 Oregon youth asCorpsmembers with an additional 41 youth serving as Crew Leaders!OYCC funds were leveraged at an average of 4 to 1 bringing in over $2.3million in actual and in-kind match. At the end of the summer, over13,000 project work hours had been completed.

OYCC and the Department of Community Colleges and WorkforceDevelopment provide program standards, funding, training, technicalassistance, program evaluation and monitoring. Additionally, OYCCcoordinates and assists in developing education, service and work projectsfor the Summer Conservation Corps and Community Stewardship Corpsprograms.

“It was fun doing hard work and making friends.”

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Crew Leaders report that average Corpsmembers show significant gains inthe following areas after their OYCC experience:

■ Developing a strong work ethic■ Identifying and achieving goals■ Working well with others■ Operating tools and equipment■ Practicing workplace safety■ Self-esteem

Additionally, many Corpsmembers express interest in further education andtraining as a result of the work they perform on Summer ConservationCorps crews.

AVERAGE PARTICIPANT AGE: 16

Gender Ethnicity

Male71%

Female29%

Asian or PacificIslander

1%

African American5%

Hispanic13%

NativeAmerican or

AlaskanNative

7%

Caucasian(not of Hispanic origin)

74%

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“I really enjoy the program. I recommendthis program to anyone who enjoys the

outdoors and getting dirty.”

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COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP CORPS

The Community Stewardship Corps (CSC) are innovative community-focused alternative education programs. OYCC partners with 25

alternative schools statewide. Youth gain valuable education, employment,work ethic, environmental knowledge and leadership skills throughintegrated classroom and field-based learning projects.

Crew activities include natural resource projects such as trail constructionand maintenance, invasive species and noxious weed removal, riparian andwetlands restoration and cultivation of native plant stock. Corpsmembersalso participate as interns in healthcare and veterinary facilities and ontechnical projects such as GIS and GPS mapping and surveying, water/soilsampling and monitoring.

Other community-based activities include volunteering in programs suchas SMART (Start Making A Reader Today), Meals on Wheels, providingfirewood for the elderly, SOLV, local food banks, community gardens,recycling and renovation projects for private businesses, homeowners andpublic agencies.

“Scholarshipmoney. Iappreciate thefact that I canstart my out ofhigh schooleducation well.”

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Out of 665 applicants, 557 youth were accepted into the program duringthe 2005-06 school year. 31% of these youth had some involvement withthe judicial system.

During the 2005-2006 school year, 2,171 high school credits were earnedand 78 diplomas were awarded to CSC participants. CSC participantswere awarded $199,335 in scholarships. These scholarships allow studentswho successfully participated in CSC programs to attend an accreditedcollege or trade school upon high school completion. Since 1992, OYCChas awarded 1,317 scholarships totaling over $1.3 million.

Crew leaders report that average Corpsmembers show significant improve-ment in the following areas after completing their OYCC experience:

■ Increase in work skills■ Relating to people with different backgrounds■ Cooperating with others in a team environment■ Ability to learn from their mistakes■ Understanding environmental problems and issues

AVERAGE PARTICIPANT AGE: 16

Gender Ethnicity

Male70%

Female30%

Asian or PacificIslander

4%African American

5%

Hispanic9%

NativeAmerican or

AlaskanNative

8%

Caucasian(not of Hispanic origin)

73%

Iraqi - Kurdish< 1%

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YOUTH RIVER STEWARDS

The Youth River Stewards program is a collaborative effort betweenOYCC Inc., Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and private

foundation grants. It introduces CSC students to the needs of Oregon’s riverswith three day/two night canoe trips on the Willamette River. The goal of theprogram is to provide insight and education, a sense of ownership and toinstill a lifetime of commitment to Oregon’s rivers. Program participants alsogain exposure to natural resource career opportunities.

Stewardship of the environment is the program’s ultimate objective, but theriver trips also allow students to learn about canoeing, Leave-No-Tracecamping, invasive species (weed) removal, and riverbank cleanup. Theyouth also learn about the history of the Willamette River, teamwork andleadership skills. Stewardship must be experienced, not simply taught.These river trips provide important hands-on lessons about the health andconservation of Oregon’s rivers. Summer and fall crews, consisting of 96youth removed several acres of Scot’s Broom and cleaned up miles ofshoreline in 2006.

“This changed my life. Iam now more a part ofmy community and Iwant to make adifference. I havelearned so much.”

“It was demanding, butwe had fun, so it wasworth it.”

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LINE IN THE SAND

Invasive, non-native plants are expanding rapidly on the public andprivate lands of Oregon’s coastal watershed and shore areas. These

plants are invading ecosystems, choking out native plants and destroyinghabitat.

OYCC is partnering with Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. ForestService, The Nature Conservancy, Siuslaw Soil & Water ConservationDistrict (SWCD), Lincoln SWCD, Oregon Parks and RecreationDepartment, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Lincoln, Lane, Douglas, Coos andCurry Counties, among others, to educate and train OYCC crews inweed management and habitat restoration in coastal counties.

The Line-in-the-Sand project name attempts todescribe our combined efforts to stop thenorthern spread of invasive species on theOregon coast, and habitat restoration forthreatened and endangered species. Planting ofnative plants after removal of blackberry, ivy,Scots Broom, gorse, knotweed and other invasivespecies is crucial to success of the project.

This project is an ambitious regional programthat began with raising $10,900 in 2004 - now expanded to over$135,000 for 2007. OYCC implements the program by hiring youthfrom the target areas to make up work crews. OYCC provides educationand training, and arranges for payroll and administrative services.Corpmembers receive real world education in botany, biology,geography, ecosystems and earth sciences.

“My OYCC experiencewas a fun andeducationalexperience.”

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OYCC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

“Believing in myself andothers has to be the one

thing that will ultimatelystay with me.”

I feel responsibleand I know Ican do hardwork now.”

Dennis TooleyRedmond

PattiAnn MonzieHood River

Cyndy Coleman MarshallBend

Representative Sal EsquivelMedford

Bill HastieSalem

Senator Floyd ProzanskiEugene

Maggie PeytonVernonia

Darlene SchelerBaker City

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2006 PARTNERS

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Alder Creek Children’s CenterAlpha Conservation CorpsAlsea Fish HatcheryAlternative PathwaysAmeriCorpsAprovecho Research CenterArmy Corps of EngineersAshland Parks & Recreation, City ofAstoria, City ofBaker 5J School DistrictBaker County Commission on Children and FamiliesBaker County CourtBaker County Juvenile DepartmentBaker County Parks & RecreationBaker Education CenterBaker Training & Employment ConsortiumBaker Valley Soil and Water Conservation DistrictBanks-Vernonia State TrailBear Creek WatershedBeaverton School DistrictBend, City ofBenton County ParksBig Picture CompanyBlue Mountain Alternative Education CenterBoys and Girls Club of AmericaBring RecyclingBullivant Houser BaileyBurns - Hines Alternative Education CenterBurns High SchoolCanby Area TransitCanby Conservation CorpsCanby High SchoolCanby School DistrictCanby, City ofCanyon City, City ofCanyon Senior CenterCareer Enhancement CenterCascade Education CorpsCascades Raptor CenterCentral Oregon Community CollegeCentral Oregon Intergovernmental CouncilCentral Point School DistrictChemeketa Community CollegeClackamas Soil & Water Conservation DistrictClatskanie Public Works, City ofClatsop County American Red CrossClatsop County Juvenile DepartmentClatsop County Parks DepartmentClean Water ServicesClyde Holliday State ParkCollege Hill Alternative SchoolCollier State ParkColumbia County Forest, Parks & RecreationColumbia County Juvenile DepartmentColumbia County Watershed CouncilColumbia River Gorge National Scenic AreaColumbia River Youth CorpsColumbia Slough Watershed CouncilComcastCommunity Action Program of East Central OregonCommunity ConnectionsCommunity Services ConsortiumCommunity Youth Action ProjectConcord Campus

Condon Childcare CenterCondon School DistrictCondon, City ofConfederated Tribes of Grand RondeConfederated Tribes of Siletz IndiansConfederated Tribes of Warm SpringsConsortium of North Marion County SchoolsCorps Restoring the Urban EnvironmentCorvallis High SchoolCountry Home FurnishingsCounty Commissioners – Title II and IIICraftworkCrane Union High SchoolCrater High SchoolCrescent Valley High SchoolCrockersCrooked River National GrasslandsCurry Public TransitDallas High SchoolDan Benjamin Home Repair & ConstructionDeschutes CountyDeschutes National ForestDick HingDon Cree LoggingDucks Unlimited Inc.Eugene Parks & RecreationEugene Public WorksEugene, City ofFairview, City ofFalls City High SchoolFFAFlorence, City ofFood for Lane CountyFort Stevens State ParkFort to Sea TrailFort Yamhill State ParkFossil Grade SchoolFossil High SchoolFossil, City ofFriends of Opal CreekFriends of the Willamette RiverFriends of TreesFrisbee Golf CourseGacier NW RockGates, City ofGearhart, City ofGeorge Fox UniversityGeorgia PacificGI JoesGilchrist SchoolGilliam County Commission on Children and FamiliesGilliam County FairgroundsGilliam County Juvenile DepartmentGilliam County Road DepartmentGilliam County Weed DepartmentGrand Canyon TrustGrand Ronde Bird ClubGrande Rhonde WatershedGrant County Alternative Education CenterGrant County Commission on Children and FamiliesGrant County Court, Fairgrounds, SnowballersGrant County Front RunnersGrant County Juvenile Department

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2006 PARTNERS (continued)

Grant Training & Employment ConsortiumGresham, City ofGriddle Ranch/Root RanchHaelan ProjectsHarney - Malheur Community Action AgencyHarney County Commission on Children and FamiliesHarney County CourtHarney County Juvenile DepartmentHarney Training & Employment ConsortiumHeart of OregonHermiston, City ofHood River County Juvenile DepartmentHood River Valley High SchoolHynix Semiconductor AmericaIntegral Youth ServicesJackson Bottom Wetlands PreserveJackson County Expo and FairJacksonville Woodmans AssociationJeff Frazier-ChevronJefferson Nature CenterJeld-Wen FoundationJob CorpsJohn Day Parks and RecreationJoseph Stewart State ParkJosephine County FairgroundsJosephine County Parks DepartmentJosephine County SherriffKelly LumberKiger BaseballKiwanda Community CenterKlamath Basin Ecosystem FoundationKlamath Basin Rangeland TrustKlamath Bird ObservatoryKlamath County CourtKlamath County LibraryKlamath County MuseumKlamath Falls Code EnforcementKlamath Falls Parks & RecreationKlamath Falls Planning DepartmentKlamath Falls SchoolsKlamath Falls Water DistrictKlamath-Lake Employment Training Institute (KLETI)Ladd Marsh Wildlife AreaLane County Fair BoardLane County ParksLane Metro Youth CorpsLane Workforce PartnershipLes SchwabLincoln County CourtLincoln County FairgroundsLincoln County Watershed CouncilLinkville AcademyLinn County CourtLooking Glass Job CenterLuther Square/Plum Ridge Care CenterMalheur County Commission on Children and FamiliesMalheur County Economic DepartmentMalheur County Juvenile DepartmentMalheur County Sheriff ’s OfficeMalheur Education CenterMalheur ESDMalheur National Wildlife RefugeMalheur Training & Employment ConsortiumManagement & Training CorporationMark Summers

Master Gardener/Rotary ClubMazamasMeadowlark ManorMetro Parks & GreenspacesMid-Coast Watershed CouncilMid-Columbia Council of GovernmentsMill City, City ofMonument Soil & Water Conservation DistrictMoro Junior/Senior High SchoolsMoro, City ofMorrow County Public WorksMt. Hood Community CollegeMt. Hood National ForestMt. Pisgah ArboretumMultnomah Education Service DistrictMultnomah Youth CooperativeNational Forest FoundationNational Parks ServiceNestucca ConnectionsNestucca School District 101Nestucca Valley AnglersNestucca Valley Lions ClubNewberg Job & Career CenterNorth Curry Families and Children’s CenterNorthwest Health FoundationNorthwest Youth CorpsNW Regional Education Service DistrictOakridge School District 76Ochoco National ForestOHSU Extension ServicesOntario ParksOntario Police DepartmentOntario, City ofOpal Creek Education CenterOpen Meadow Alternative SchoolsOregon Department of Community Colleges and

Workforce DevelopmentOregon Department of EducationOregon Department of Fish & WildlifeOregon Department of ForestryOregon Department of Human ServicesOregon Department of TransportationOregon Employment DepartmentOregon Food BankOregon Hunter’s AssociationOregon National GuardOregon Parks & Recreation DepartmentOregon Snowmobile State AssociationOregon State Marine BoardOregon State UniversityOregon State University Extension OfficesOregon State University Hatchery Research CenterOregon Wildlife Heritage FoundationOregon Youth AuthorityOregon ZooOSU Hatfield Marine Science CenterOYCC Advisory CommitteeOYCC, Inc.Pacific Tree Climbing InstitutePangaea ProjectPennick Home ProjectsPhilomath High SchoolPhoenix School of RoseburgPine Creek RanchPort of AlseaPort of NewportPort of Port Orford

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2006 PARTNERS (continued)

Port of PortlandPort of St. HelensPortland Bureau of Environmental ServicePortland Bureau of Housing and Community

DevelopmentPortland General ElectricPortland Parks & RecreationPortland Public SchoolsPortland State UniversityPortland Water BureauPortland, City ofPreston Gates EllisProvidence Child CenterRay Branch EquipmentReynolds School District 7Riddle Charter SchoolRoaring River Tree FarmRocky Mtn. Elk FoundationRogue Community CollegeRon and Barb AdamsRural Oregon Partnership for EmploymentSantiam Canyon School DistrictSantiam Job & Career CenterScappoose Bay Watershed CouncilScappoose School DistrictSchool District 4JSchoolhouse SuppliesSeaside Chamber of CommerceSeaside High School BoostersSeaside School DistrictSheridan High SchoolSherman County Court, Fair Board, Historical MuseumSisters School DistrictSiuslaw National ForestSojourn TheatreSOLVSouth Coast Business Employment Co.South Coast Watershed CouncilSouth Pacific Elementary SchoolSouth Slough National Estuarine Research ReserveSpray SchoolsSpringfield, City ofSRI ShapiroSt. Helens School District 502St. Helens, City ofStandard InsuranceStarker Forests, Inc.Start Making a Reader Today (SMART)Sumpter Valley Dredge State Park & FriendsSurvivor’s Leadership CampSWOYA Boys & Girls ClubTaylor Auto OutletTeam SYNERGOTerra Nova Conservation CorpsThe Job CouncilThe Nature ConservancyThe Oregon ConsortiumThe Oregon GardenThe Trail BlazersThe Wetlands ConservancyThe Work Connection

Thomason Auto GroupTigard/Tualatin School DistrictTilamook Estuaries PartnershipTillamook County Charter SchoolTillamook County Dairy FarmersTillamook County Health DepartmentTillamook Education ConsortiumTillamook PUDTillamook School District 9Tillamook, City ofToyota Motors, Inc.Troutdale, City ofTrust Management Services, LLCTualatin Hills Parks and Recreation DistrictUmatilla - Morrow ESDUmpqua National ForestUmpqua Training & EmploymentUnion County Commission on Children and FamiliesUnion County CourtUnion County Juvenile DepartmentUnion County SchoolsUnion Training & Employment ConsortiumUnion-Baker Alternative SchoolUnion-Baker ESDUpper Nehalem Watershed CouncilUpper Rogue Area Training & EducationUS Bureau of Land ManagementUS Environmental Protection AgencyUS Forest ServiceUS Geological ServiceVale Union High SchoolVale, City ofVernonia, City ofWallowa Band Nez Perce Interpretive CenterWallowa CountyWallowa Lake MarinaWallowa Lake State ParkWallowa Mountain ZoneWallowa ResourcesWallowa Training and Employment ConsortiumWasco CountyWater ReadyWestern Oregon WasteWeyerhaeuser CompanyWheeler County Court and Road DepartmentWheeler County FairgroundsWheeler County ParksWILCOWildlife ImagesWillamalaneWillamette ESDWillamette Mission State ParkWillamette National ForestWillamina High SchoolWING WATCHERWolftreeWolverine ChasisWorksystems Inc.Yamhill County Community CorrectionsYamhill County Juvenile DepartmentYamhill County ParksYamhill County Personnel DepartmentYouth Transition Program

Our warmest appreciation to all of our supporters.We could not have done it without you!

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PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Plant identificationFirst aid trainingTool & workplace safetyWildlife identificationWater quality monitoringRiparian & wetlands restoration SystemsGeographic Information Systems (GIS)StatisticsGeologyHistoryMathematicsBlueprint readingWritingConflict management

PARTICIPANT ACHIEVEMENTS

Dropout recovery & graduationPride and ownership in their communitiesSelf esteem and self disciplineRespect for self and othersReliabilityPersonal accountabilityLeadership skills

PROJECTS COMPLETED

Noxious weed eradicationInvasive species removalNative plantingsGIS/GPS surveyingFence buildingTrail construction and maintenanceCollection of insects & native seedsLandscapingConstructionPaintingCultural activitiesCommunity activities

“I’m doing much better inthis program than in

traditional school. I havebetter grades because I

actually go to school everyday instead of skipping.”