CYC PROGRAMS
What Is the CYC Summer Program?
The CYC Summer Program gives High School students the chance to do volunteer work that benefits the local environment. It does this in a way that maximizes your opportunity to learn about certain environmental and conservation issues, your ability to positively contribute directly to something meaningful and worthwhile, and our ability to provide this opportunity to as many youth in our watershed as possible.
Participants volunteer in groups of 7 with CVC staff for one week of the summer (the program runs all nine weeks during summer break). Volunteers participate in a variety of important stewardship activities, such as tree planting, aquatic and terrestrial monitoring, habitat construction and trail maintenance to name a few.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about the environment, explore different areas of the watershed and meet new people. This Summer Program also looks great on your resume and college and university applications!
In exchange for volunteering participants can receive up to 35 community involvement hours to put towards their 40 hour minimum requirement for graduation. By registering you are committing to CYC and your crew-mates for the whole week. Participation is not mandatory but we do appreciate it when every effort is made to compete the whole week.
Registrations typically begin in early spring with announcements of program placements in mid to late June.
Check out our Facebook page for photos and comments from past participants. Become a fan on our CYC Wall, receive updates and let your friends see your picture up there this summer doing things you never thought you would!
Here are a few reasons why you should apply for the CYC Summer Program!:
- Earn 35 volunteer hours in one shot
- Meet new friends and make contact with environmental professionals
- Apply with friends or family and spend the week with them
- Learn some resume-worthy skills like team work, task management, leadership and communication
- Explore the natural environment. Get familiar with plants, animals and landscapes in and beyond your own backyard
- Help the environment and help yourself by keeping this watershed healthy
- Have an unforgettable week!
Details and Policies regarding our Summer Program
Branch Out!
The Conservation Youth Corps “Branch Out!” Program enhances the secondary science and geography curriculum and raises students’ awareness about local climate change issues. Students are inspired to discover nature in their community and participate in a community stewardship project.
The “Branch Out!” program package involves:
1. An interactive in-school presentation – a half-hour presentation filled with engaging visuals to enhance the students’ understanding of the local environment and climate change. This presentation is mandatory since a health and safety discussion will be included in the presentation material.
2. A FULL-DAY local field study and tree planting – building on the in-school presentation, students visit a local natural area for a full day field experience. The students will plant trees with expert CVC staff and participate in two ecosystem-based field studies.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The program is designed as a full day field trip, and can accommodate up to 90 students per day from the same school (approximately 2-4 classes). Teachers are encouraged to register as a group or department. Ideally, we would like to fill 2 busses for each Branch Out field trip. Accommodations can be made for variable groups sizes, program times (half-day option), and the activities delivered, which can be negotiated on a case by case basis.
There is no cost to participate in the program. Bussing costs can be reimbursed up to 50%.
Branch Out! will be offering programming to secondary schools within the Credit Valley Watershed (see map) from April 2, 2012 – June 21, 2012.
We will begin booking in-class presentations immediately.
Registration is based on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Check our FAQ's if you still have questions, or for more information or to register your class please contact Cameron Parrack, Branch Out! Coordinator at cparrack@creditvalleyca.ca.
contacting us:
If you are unsure of anything about the CYC or the registration process, please contact us at:
Shawn Verge
CYC Program Coordinator,
Phone: 905-670-1615 ext. 441
Email: sverge@creditvalleyca.ca.
Thanks again for your interest in CYC.
