WHY EARTH SERVICE CORPS?
The YMCA Earth Service Corps is an innovative youth-led environmental program for children in grades 6 - 12 that empowers students to take a hands-on role in creating a healthier environment in their school, communities and region while nurturing a respect for diversity within the natural world.
This program encourages young people to advocate for themselves and their communities in collaboration and dialogue with others of different backgrounds. By engaging young people, we broaden the scope of environmentalism to include social and environmental justice, human interconnectedness with ecosystems, and cultural values around nature.
Our program, which runs from October - May includes:
- Monthly environmental service project at various sites throughout Chester County’s green spaces.
- Monthly field trip to a park, preserve, forest, zoo, or museum (additional field trip fees apply).
- Monthly in-person meetings, where students engage in discussions on environmental current events, service project planning, and field trip selection. Students may attend the meeting location that is most convenient. Held at UMLY (1st Wednesday/month), Oscar Lasko YMCA (2nd Wednesday/month), and West Chester Area YMCA (4th Wednesday/month).
- Monthly environmental exploration night (3rd Wednesday/month) that alternates between an in-person animal presentation at UMLY’s Environmental & STEM Education Complex and an online group video chat with an environmental professional to explore environmental careers such as wildlife conservation, biology, engineering, zoology, teaching, and more.
For more information or questions, please contact .
The YMCA is a cause-driven charitable organization that provides financial assistance for programs. Ask us for details.