PLT GreenSchools YLINC 2014 Day Four

The last day of our amazing journey was one of packing up tents, cleaning up headquarters, and two more final activities outdoors. Early in the morning, Stephen f. Austin State University Forest Wildlife Management Professor, Dr. Warren Conway invited the kids to look for birds on the lake shore. With Dr. Conway's spotting scope, the kids got to see a bird that they have already seen a millions times in illustration, but never in the flesh: a bald eagle! The National Bird makes itself at home on Lake Sam Rayburn frequently, but the campers felt very fortunate to see it. Like an avian ballet, hundreds of cormorants and pelicans churned the waters by the lake shore, and a great blue heron flew by for a photo op.

Left to Right: Andre Sanez, Dr. Warren Conway and Lyndi Long watch the fog roll in and watch for birds on the shore of  Lake Sam Rayburn

After getting packed up and ready to go, the kids took kayaks out in the water, which seemed to be the highlight of the camp. Dr. Tamberly Conway, U.S Forest Service Washington Office Partnerships, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, led the students on one last fun session of Zumba outside overlooking Lake Sam Rayburn.

Emerson Hernandez helps Andre Saenz and Clarissa Trevino get going on thier kayak.

Then it was time to say goodbye. Emerson Hernandez, Gabriella Bravo, Luis Cruz and Carlos Jimenez each wrote a letter to Tamberly and read it out loud. These letters were expressions of the kids gratitude for this opportunity. Tamberly was moved to tears, as her friends poured at their hearts from the words on the page. Everyone shared one last group hug, one last Austin cheer and made their way back to Houston. The students left nature as they found it during these past four days but nature did not leave them as when the students and nature first met. Each of the Y-LINC students left a piece of themselves with the nurturing nature that found them.

Emerson Hernandez, onenof our campers from El Salvador, said that before he signed up for this outing, he had plans to attend college, become a writer and open his own business. After this program though, he still wants to write and be an entrepreneur, but he is determined to make time to go out and enjoy nature. He is determined to live by his favorite epigram: "Give more than you can ever take" by working with and donating to groups that have programs just like this, if not to create a nature experience camp of his own. He says that these four days have made him "love nature even more."

Emely Velasquez, a Student Case worker at Houston Independent School District's Dropout Prevention Department and a 2005 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High School, believes that programs like GreenSchools! Y-LINC have a positive effect on students. "Things like this, helps them keep coming back every day, and that keeps them from dropping out.” Emely joined us for the week as another vital partner, helping us set up the camp and keep it running smoothly. One of our goals was to introduce the youth to world of opportunity in the outdoors: Emely is confident that we have accomplished that goal. “It broadens their horizons. It introduces them to different opportunities that they may not have even known about.”

Funds from U.S. Forest Service Conservation Education and National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council made our event possible. The FNFGT, the U.S. Forest Service, NUCFAC, National Project Learning Tree and many other vial partners are building "Greenbelts" of Project Learning Tree GreenSchools! in Houston ISD through the Greenschools! : A Model for Green Communities partnership. Part of the work of that partnership involves providing access to outdoor recreation and delivering educational programming that connects the public to their Urban Forests. We have accomplished that and more.

Dr. Tamberly Conway, one of our event's principle organizers, along with Dr. David Clipson, the Friends of the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Executive Director, said that another goal of this camping experience was to“establish pathways to education and careers in natural resource conservation and management or just establish an interest in higher education.” Another goal was to establish a stronger bond between Stephen F. Austin High School and Stephen F. Austin State University, which are being developed as sister schools. In addition, Stephen F. Austin High School supports a diverse student population, with an approximate 96% Latino student enrollment. This partnership between the high school and the university will help to create pathways for Latino and other diverse youth, while establishing opportunities to diversify the SFASU College of Forestry and Agriculture as well as various agencies and organizations who are seeking to establish a workforce that mirrors the public they serve.

In addition, our partnership is developing a program model that will allow other school districts across the country to form GreenSchools!, establish GreenSchools! Greenbelts, and involve the schools and communities in the development and implementation of GreenSchools! Action Projects that support a healthier environment and sustainable ecosystems. Nalleli Hidalgo, Tracy Sanchez, Charlie Jordan, Arianna Berdote, Andre Saenz, Samuel Camarillo, Emerson Hernandez, Luis Cruz and Gabriella Bravo are our Green Ambassadors who are working to bring new schools into the Houston East End Greenbelt. Emerson, Luis and Gaby decided to offer themselves as Greenschool Ambassadors during this very adventure!

This event also contributed to the U.S. Forest Service Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. One USFS focal area is to increase diversity in the Forest Service workforce but also think about diversity as it related to USFS programs. We included our diverse student group in nearly every decision and encouraged them to continue to be involved in the same types of projects back home.

“We believe that through these programs, we can inspire youth at an early age to become better conservation leaders and to think about the possibilities of an education and a career in natural resources,” Tamberly added. “We are trying to lay the groundwork for the next generation of the U.S. Forest Service and of our nation as a whole."

But even if the kids don't get a job with her agency, she is confident that what they learned here will empower them throughout their lives to be knowledgeable, active citizens who will care about the environment and who will better understand the management of our nation’s natural resources for the greatest good.

Our awesome PLT Greenschools Y-LINC 2014 crew!