The Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps (SCYEC) is a county-wide workforce training and ecosystem education program aimed at employing young adults, as well as teaching environmental stewardship. CCNB partners with the county to provide educational and work development opportunities and tackle important environmental projects that benefit the community at large.

This year-round program focuses on many environmental needs of the county. Different crews work with partners like Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, Sonoma County Ag+Open Space, and ahead of the rainy season, with City of Santa Rosa Creek Stewardship.

Corpsmembers who work in conjunction with City of Santa Rosa Creek Stewardship, for example, have achieved impressive feats on a project earlier this year. They removed exotic or invasive species from over 6 acres of public land, reduced hazardous fuel from over 8 acres, and created or restored 0.72 miles of waterways to ensure proper flow and minimize the risk of floods in neighboring communities.

In addition, corpsmembers on these crews have access to career exploration and events to enhance their employability and build community. This year, they participated in an Opportunity Fair, which included mock interviews with local employers in environmental and other sectors. The kick-off event was a day of educational and recreational activities surrounding land stewardship.

This collaboration with the County of Sonoma stimulates the growth of a labor force in environmental careers and provides partner organizations with the opportunity to increase the reach of their land stewardship work—as a result, the community receives valuable services that mitigate natural disasters and improve their green spaces by restoring natural habitats and giving local species the chance to thrive.