Nonprofit for at-risk youth has last day at Bolsa Chica Conservancy

The Orange County Conservation Corps ended its six-year relationship with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy Thursday after economic constraints caused the corps to leave that location.

“They were an integral part of our staff and they will be sorely missed,” said Grace Adams, executive director at the conservancy. “We’ve come to rely on their help and their work as part as of our daily operations.”

Located in Anaheim, the corps is a nonprofit organization for at-risk youth between 18 and 26 years old who have not yet finished their high school degree requirements. Members are paid for 32 hours of work on environmental or conservation projects and receive 10 hours of education per week.

According to Adams, it cost nearly $100,000 a year to keep a group of corps members at the conservancy.

“The funding for their program essentially ended,” Adams said.

Corps members at the Bolsa Chica location had a wide range of responsibilities, whether it was leading tours, furthering restoration efforts or teaching wetland ecology to school-age children.

Former crew supervisor David Tankersley reflected on the work of the corps at the conservancy.

“It was kind of like a promotion to be able to work on the Bolsa Chica crew,” he said. “It gave corps members the opportunity to work at the same place on a consistent basis. They got to learn first-hand what conservation means and how to communicate to the public what conservation is and its importance.”

“The work that these young kids did was phenomenal,” Adams said. “They are at-risk youth who came here to the wetlands and it gave them a platform to become productive members of society.”

To donate to the OCCC, call (888) 641-2677 or e-mail info@occcorps.org.