Ecology Youth Corps Wraps Up a Month of Clean Up in San Juan County

Ecology Youth Crew (from left): Carter Fuehr, Christian De La Zerda, Abbie Vogel and Supervisor, Erik Moore – Photo Credit: San Juan County Staff

Three San Juan Island Youths have been walking twelve miles a day to clear San Juan County’s roads and beaches of litter and noxious weeds. The Ecology Youth Corps (EYC) has been working for the past month on all four ferry-served islands. They conclude their work this week, and as one participant stated

It’s not easy work but it’s been worth it in the end.

The partnership between San Juan County Public Works and the Ecology Youth Corps is funded by the Ecology Community Litter Cleanup Program. The EYC is Washington State’s largest youth employment program. The youths earn minimum wage while gaining job skills, teamwork experience, and safety awareness.

The three teenagers hired this year from San Juan Island are Abbie Vogel, Christian De La Zerda, and Carter Feuhr.

Erik Moore, EYC Supervisor, says:

We have removed well over a ton of trash, nearly 1000 pounds of recycling, pulled countless hundreds of noxious weeds, cleaned around 100 miles of roadways, and over 90 acres of beaches and parks.

This year the crew expanded its work to include the removal of noxious weeds along County roads. Judy Jackson of the SJC Noxious Weed Board said

Identifying and removing noxious weeds provides an opportunity for island youth to enlarge their understanding of the natural world, while helping out their island community. The Noxious Weed Board is grateful to the Ecology Youth Corps for their help in removing tansy ragwort and common teasel from our roadsides.

This summer’s program has been a great success. Moore noted that the Island group is covering more miles than any other youth corps group in the state. Sam Gibboney, SJC Solid Waste Administrator, has hopes for future summer programs, and says:

The Youth Corps program is an excellent example of state, local and community collaboration,” she said. It’s a win for all involved.

The kids agree and hope the program is available for other youth next year. One of the crew members elaborated

I’ve learned a lot about plants and recycling and gotten a lot of exercise. It’s been a good job.

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