The YES! program takes place over 12 sessions during spring and summer. Up to 12 youth ages 14-19 are selected from applications submitted by mid-February. Transportation from Empire High School is provided to all field days.
The first sessions include an orientation to the area and an overview of management issues. Mid-program, students engage in activities such as assessing site conditions, training in facilitation, and project planning. During the final session participants carry out a project and evaluate their efforts. View the YES! Youth Engaged Stewardship 2018 recap and 2012-2018 program accomplishments.
YES! Partners have offered the youth leadership and environmental restoration program for seven years. YES! Partners are:
- BLM Tucson Field Office
- Cienega Watershed Partnership
- Empire High School (Vail Unified School District, Arizona)
- Pima County
The YES! work has been supported by many others ranging from donors (Freeport-McMoran, Summit Hut, and B&B Cactus) to in-kind assistance provided by volunteer scientists from the YES! Partners, The Nature Conservancy, University of Arizona, the FROG Project, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and BLM resource managers.
Scientists and land managers from government agencies and other nonprofit organizations are essential to the program providing ecological orientation, landscape assessment, and specific restoration skills.
Ready to learn more? Check out the YES! program’s enduring impacts and view the schedule.
