Update: Ashland Watershed Youth Program Graduation

Celebrating the 2021 Ashland Watershed Youth Crew

July 19, 2020

Congrats and thank you to our Ashland Watershed Youth Training & Employment Program crew members! They braved record-breaking heat over the past four weeks to take part in ecological restoration in the Ashland Watershed, along Bear Creek, Table Rocks, the Applegate Valley, and the Colestin Valley. From ecological fuels reduction to invasive species management, these eight hard-working youth made a difference in their local ecosystems while learning about ecology and natural resource careers.

On Friday, we held a closing celebration to honor them and hear about their experiences in the program. Thank you to Forest Supervisor Merv George and Public Affairs Officer Virginia Gibbons of the U.S. Forest Service-Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and Mayor Julie Akins and Councilor Stef Seffinger of City of Ashland Oregon for joining our Executive Director Marko Bey and other Lomakatsi staff to thank the youth, hand out certificates, and offer parting words.

We’re grateful to all our agency and non-profit partners who came out during the program to share their expertise with the crew. A big thank you to the funders that made this program possible: U.S. Forest Service, National Forest Foundation, City of Ashland, Portland Trail Blazers Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, Gray Family Foundation. And a special thank you to our awesome Crew Leaders Sequoia Ahimsa and Liam Cislo who worked tirelessly to make this program a success.

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