Natural Lands - The Magazine of Natural Lands Fall/Winter 2019, Issue 155 | Page 13

NAT U R AL LAND S
11
A YES Program participant holding
a non-native praying mantis. Larger
in size than their native counterpart,
these mantids are indiscriminate
hunters. They devour beneficial
insects and even hummingbirds.
See page 3 for more information.
A battered window air-conditioner labors noisily to pump
cool air into Bob Steininger’s office, a small room in a
brick building in Phoenixville that was once a Catholic
elementary school. It’s been a hot, sticky August. But
Bob uses even the weather as a teachable moment. “I tell
these kids, ‘If you can handle working outside in 95-de-
gree heat and 100-percent humidity and stay focused on
your project, you can do anything.’”
Bob is the director of Chester County Youth Programs
with Trellis for Tomorrow, a nonprofit that creates trans-
formative, real-world opportunities for youth who have
faced social and economic disadvantages. Through the
lens of sustainability, young people learn to make choic-
es that foster health and well-being for themselves, their
communities, and the environment.
Since 2009, 4,500 kids have been impacted by Trellis’
programs, one of which is still in its infancy but is off to a
great start. The Youth Environmental Stewardship (YES)
program focuses on creating the next generation of land
stewards. Supported in part by immediate impact funds
raised through Natural Lands’ Campaign for Humans
and Nature, a small cohort of 13 to 17-year-olds work on a
variety of conservation projects at two of Natural Lands’
preserves: Binky Lee and Bryn Coed. Projects include
planting trees, trail maintenance and construction,
invasive species removal, and various beautification proj-
ects. The program emphasizes conservation and allows
participants to explore possible career opportunities in
the field.
Connecting people—especially young people—to the
outdoors has become an increasingly essential part of
Natural Lands’ work. “Studies have shown that spending
time outdoors increases a child’s interest in and care for
the environment,” says Oliver Bass, president of Natural
Lands. “Part of our job is to cultivate the next generation
of conservationists. Getting them outside for hands-on
experiences has a far greater impact than simply teach-
ing them about the importance of the natural world in a
classroom.”
Every weekday morning during the six-week program,
Bob drives his van around northern Chester County
to pick up a dozen youth from Spring City and Phoe-
nixville, then drives them to meet with Natural Lands
Preserve Manager Darin Groff. They work for four hours
. FALL/W INT E R 20 1 9