Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Urban Initiative During the months of June and July, the US Forest Service and Regreen Springfield worked with a team of Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) who are part of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s New England environmental programming. There are YCC crews located in USFWS refuges across the region, with one focusing on work in the highly urbanized Springfield area. The Springfield based crew is stationed at the Springfield Science Museum, and works on projects developed by the Forest Service, the USFWS and the City of Springfield. Springfield is an ‘Urban Wildlife Refuge’, as designated by the USFWS, and is a priority for environmental conservation efforts by that agency. Scientists from the Forest Service provide technical and field work instruction to the YCC teams.
Additionally, a week-long “Spike Camp” was held in Springfield, where crews from the Northeast traveled to the city and work on a series of projects in the Abbey Brook Watershed. Regreen Springfield played an important role in the success of this initiative, and works closely with staff from the the Conservation Commission and the Forest Service to develop the projects in the Abbey Brook conservation area. Wooden stream crossing were built, a wetland viewing platform was constructed and over 30 new trees and native shrubs were planted to control erosion. Additionally, over 40 new interpretive signs were added to key highlight areas in the watershed.
Youth Conservation Corps
Urban Initiative