Summer youth success with Lopez Island Conservation Corps

Lopez Island Conservation Corps Program Leaders Amanda Wedow and Charlie Behnke are proud to announce that “LICC has just completed their most successful and productive summer youth season on record, with 13 youth participants working an estimated six miles of trail and logging more than 700 youth service hours!”

September 17, 2012 4:35 pm
LICC on the move at Iceberg Point.
LICC on the move at Iceberg Point.

Lopez Island Conservation Corps Program Leaders Amanda Wedow and Charlie Behnke are proud to announce that “LICC has just completed their most successful and productive summer youth season on record, with 13 youth participants working an estimated six miles of trail and logging more than 700 youth service hours!”

The youth spent nine weeks working hard, learning and exploring public lands in San Juan County.

This season LICC was contracted by Bureau of Land Management and Friends of the LIFE trail to perform extensive trail building, maintenance, and environmental education on south Lopez BLM sites, Patos Island and the LIFE trail.

BLM’s Recreation Manager Nick Teague was pleased to see the crews work.

“I am just blown away by the amount and quality of work the LICC crew has accomplished this season; y’all are a priceless asset to these public lands and the community,” he said.

LICC received special funding from BLM this season to integrate more environmental education and skill-building opportunities into the program. Time was set aside each crew day for lessons including sustainable trail design, Leave No Trace/Tread Lightly ethics, tool maintenance and sharpening, using a compass, knot tying, natural history of local flora and fauna, geology, hydrology, and more.

“It’s great to see the program growing and developing in new ways,” Behnke said. “I am especially excited about the educational portion. In the future I hope to incorporate a diversity of local experts to share their knowledge and skills with these youth.”

This year has been a momentous year for LICC, said Wedow.

“We obtained 501(c)3 nonprofit status making us eligible for many more grants and tax deductible donations (wink-wink), we helped to establish San Juan Island Conservation Corps who had a terrific first season, a van was donated to LICC by the Loyd family, the second annual Procession of the Species Celebration last April was a magnificent success, and then to have such a strong season; go LICC go,” she added.

Keep your eyes out for LICC monthly projects and learning opportunities throughout fall, winter and spring.  For more information contact l.i.c.c.team@gmail.com or visit lopezconservationcorps.org.