Kazakhstanis will visit Zilker Nature Preserve to learn about American YouthWorks’ conservation efforts

Austin, TX – On March 6^th, American YouthWorks (AYW) will host a Kazakhstani delegation that is visiting Austin, Texas, as part of the Library of Congress’ Open World Leadership Program, to research initiatives to promote environmentally friendly practices in Kazakhstan.  The group will first tour AYW’s Charter High School to get an overview of its green jobs training, education and service programs and will then tour Zilker Nature Preserve to learn specifically about youth involvement in invasive species removal and trail restoration, and to see how these projects provide education and job training opportunities for young people.

AYW has been involved in conservation projects at Zilker Nature Preserve and sites like it for over sixteen years.  Currently, AYW high school students enrolled in AYW’s Environmental Corps (E-Corps) program are improving the entire trail system on Zilker Nature Preserve, through a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  This Preserve wide project includes the restoration of a trail built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the late 1930s.  The CCC was a program of President Roosevelt’s New Deal that put hundreds of thousands of unemployed men to work conserving natural resources all over the country and is a model that E-Corps has emulated.  The CCC also constructed an overlook with a stunning view of Austin, that was reached by hiking on the old CCC trail.  Though the overlook is still there, the trail has fallen out of use and has become overgrown, but it is being brought back to life with this project.

“By working on a Civilian Conservation Corps trail, students at American YouthWorks have a unique opportunity to restore America’s history, and through this conservation effort, are building its future,” said Parc Smith, CEO of American YouthWorks.

The Open World Leadership Center is an exchange program of the U.S. Government that seeks to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the USA and the countries of Eurasia by developing a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America’s democratic, accountable government and free-market system.  The Kazakhstani visit is also hosted by Center for Safe Energy of Earth Island Institute.  The Kazakhstani Facilitator choose AYW as a model program that the Kazakhstani delegation could learn from as they further develop environmental efforts in their Country.

Mr. Smith also said, “We’re excited to share with the Kazakhstani delegates, our young people’s efforts at Zilker Nature Preserve that protect our environment and provide hands-on education and job training for youth.  We aim to demonstrate that a fundamental legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps, creating jobs by conserving natural resources, is still alive in our Environmental Corps program today.”

Media are invited to join the delegation and AYW staff and students for a tour of the Zilker Nature Preserve project site at 11:00 AM on March 6^th.  Though the schedule of the tour is not expected to change, we suggest media RSVP with Rachel Matvy, 865-540-1334.  Visit www.americanyouthworks.org for more about AYW and www.openworld.gov for more about the Open World Program.

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About American Youth Works

AYW is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Austin, Texas that integrates at-risk youth and AmeriCorps members to provide education, service and green jobs training. AYW operates a public charter high school, the Service Learning Academy, a GED program and green jobs and service corps programs, Casa Verde Builders, Computer Corps, Environmental Corps, and Green Energy Corps. AYW also offers on-site life services to help students overcome obstacles to their education, including a parent and child development center, academic coaching and counseling.  For more than thirty years, AYW has assisted thousands of local, at-risk youth and adult graduates from around the country in transforming their lives and gaining job skills through community service, education and a commitment to preserving the natural environment.

About Environmental Corps

E-Corps is a green jobs training and service program that allows at-risk youth and adult volunteers to build and restore the natural environment through parks and trails projects, forestry, and habitat restoration.  E-Corps integrates young adults from all over the United States with local youth to create a blended, transformative, cultural experience for all participants.

About the Open World Program

The Open World Program is a non-partisan initiative of Congress designed to build mutual understanding between the United States and Eurasia. Since its founding by Congress in 1999, the Open World program has enabled over 18,000 current and future Eurasian leaders to experience American democracy, civil society and community life; work with their American counterparts; stay in American homes; and gain new ideas and inspiration for implementing change back home.