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Student Conservation Corps |
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2013 Student Conservation Corps The Student Conservation Corps or “SCoCo” brings the energies and passions of youth to local environmental work, enhanced with a conservation and career education. SCoCo members work to control invasive weeds in our island’s Parks, methodically achieving goals outlined in the Invasive Plant Management Plans of the park district. The core of the SCoCo program is a summer field work and conservation education opportunity for local High School students. In partnership with Sustainable Bainbridge and the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, The Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Rec District is offering 20 Student Conservation Corps positions as a part of ongoing stewardship efforts in our parks in 2013. A new pilot program, The Spring Break Scotch Broom Brigade added four days of work for interested SCoCo members over the April 1-4,2013 school break. SCoCo members worked to remove Scotch Broom in a number of parks before the spring bloom. The Student Conservation Corps aims to foster a new generation of environmental stewards. The Student Conservation Corps is a successful part of a multi-pronged effort, involving hundreds of volunteers, to manage the English ivy, Scotch Broom, and other invasive weeds which threaten the vitality and beauty of Bainbridge Island parks. In 2010, Sustainable Bainbridge supported the pilot program of SCoCo. In the past three years the Corps has made a significant dent in noxious plant infestation at Blakely Harbor Park, Fort Ward Park and Pritchard Park. We have cleared ivy from over 6500 trees on 120 acres. Students have worked enthusiastically to make SCoCo the most effective local weed control effort to date. The Park District adopted this program to encourage youth to make a difference while gaining a paycheck for their contributions and learning the science and methodologies of protecting our habitat. Lunch break presentations bring locally sourced, cutting-edge conservation education to Corps members. SCoCo is a community sponsored program. Over the past three years The Student Conservation Corps has been made possible with support from the Bainbridge Island Parks Foundation, The Bainbridge Community Foundation, The Association of Bainbridge Communities (ABC) Conservation/Education Foundation, The Washington Foundation for the Environment, AmeriCorps, and Bainbridge Island Ace Hardware as well as with contributions to Sustainable Bainbridge from generous community members. Eligibility: Open to individuals, age 15-18, who want to work hard to make a difference in our local environment. Application process: Interested individuals must attend a spring work party and submit an application. SCoCo members commit to a full summer session and two additional fall volunteer work parties. Twenty students will be accepted for the 2013 SCoCo sessions. Fund raising efforts will aim to add four positions for a total of 24 Corps members.
Final 2013 Application Work Party: Sunday April 21st- Earth day at Pritchard Park, Interested students must attend a training work parties in order to apply. Earth Day celebrations on 4/21 present the last opportunity for 2013 applicants. This is a volunteer activity and students may get community service credit for their hours. Interviews will occur during these sessions, and applications will be issued to students after these work parties. We meet at the Pritchard Park parking lot closest to Rockaway beach on Eagle Harbor Drive. Applicants should come dressed to work, in pants and work shoes, with gloves and appropriate layers for warmth. We will meet and accomplish some great work, rain or shine! April 24th: deadline for application to be emailed to program director. May 1st: accepted applicants will receive invitation to join the 2013 SCoCo. May10th: accepted SCoCo members must confirm that they will take summer positions. SPRING BREAK Scotch Broom Brigade: April 1-4 2013 12-4 pm. Twelve students selected from those hired for the Summer Session will work in 3 or more Parks to clear Scotch Broom. This work is best achieved before the spring bloom when the ground is still soft from winter rains. The eventual goal: remove all Scotch Broom from our Bainbridge Island Parks. SUMMER 2013 BIMPRD Student Conservation Corps: June 17th to July 2nd. 9:30 am-2:30 pm The Program will run for 12 days between the end of school and the 4th of July holiday on weekdays. Up to 4 positions may be added to the scheduled 20 positions, depending on extra fund-raising success. A wait-list will be maintained. Field work will take place at two or more parks. Salary information: All SCoCo members will be paid $9.49, for four hours a day in each session. One hour of unpaid break time is dedicated to conservation education during the summer session and Corps members are expected to stay on site to participate. Fall restoration work parties: Corps members must attend 2 out of 3 late fall sessions, dates TBD, for more restoration work and planting native vegetation before the winter rains. This is a volunteer commitment. Corps members assist in outreach efforts and field work. Program leadership: Director: Barb Trafton has organized and directed SCoCo, beginning with the 2010 Pilot Program. She is a passionate defender of our local environment, and has served as a former board member and long time volunteer with the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, Weed Warriors, and The BIMPRD Trails Advisory Committee. She is also a coach for Bainbridge Island Rowing. Who knew this would evolve from a journey begun with an Art History/Visual Arts degree from Princeton University? Assistant Director: Jonnie Dunne recently graduated from Willamette University with high honors and a B.A. in Environmental Science. He has applied the lessons in ecology he learned there to a number of research positions in Ecuador, the Willamette Valley, Mt.St. Helens, and the Mariana Islands. He is currently serving as an AmeriCorps intern in the role of Stewardship Coordinator for the Bainbridge Island Land Trust. Questions: please email
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