By Steven Schauer, Deputy Executive Director
The King County Flood Control District (KCFCD) published a blog on June 20th about Promoting Environmental Justice and Youth Engagement. The blog highlighted an example of the KCFCD’s unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship, equity, social justice, and environmental justice. Specifically, the piece shared about the KCFCD’s 2024 budget funding directed to either establish a new internship program or enhance an existing one, as championed by Supervisor Rod Dembowski.
The budget directive focused on creating workforce pathways that offer career opportunities and living-wage jobs for youth in fields related to climate change, habitat restoration, and flood risk reduction. The program is specifically designed to recruit participants from traditionally disadvantaged communities and to provide the support necessary for their success. As discussed in the June 20th blog, it was decided to channel the new funds into the existing King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) internship program, in cooperation with King County, which serves as the service provider to the KCFCD.
This past week, the first cohort of interns funded in part by the KCFCD went through the YCC internship program. Their internship ended by giving a final presentation about their youth-driven independent project, which is part of the internship program. Here are some highlights from their presentations.
YCC End-of-Internship Presentations
The high school interns were responsible for organizing their end-of-internship presentation, which they title, “Environmental Stories of Hope.” The initial student presenter set the stage for the group presentations that followed, covering topics including the conservation of native animals, challenges to salmon, healthy urban forests, and water quality challenges. Each group gave a presentation, with each member of the group participating. The presentations followed a similar format of giving background information about the subject, identifying problems associated or related to the subject, and sharing their ideas for what the best solutions may be to the identified problems.
The first group’s presentation focused on the Western Pond Turtle.
The second group presented on the challenges to salmon conservation.
The third group gave a presentation about urban forests.
The fourth, and final, group of student interns presented on water quality challenges.
Question and Answer Session
The last student to speak concluded the session by serving as the MC for a question-and-answer session with the audience. There were several memorable moments, including some of the following comments made by the student interns.
The program sparked a passion in me to pursue an environmental career path.
I didn’t think working outside was fun. Now, I’m reframing how I think about that.
I learned how interconnected environmental systems are.
I now have skills I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.
I care more for the environment.
I talked to my mom about the restoration work facts and tell my friends all about the plants I learned to identify.
I’m trying to find new ways I can help my community.
I can contribute to making the environment better, even if I don’t work in the environmental field.
- I learned the importance of choosing our words wisely when describing species and communities, because words have the power to build up or tear down, particularly considering the environmental justice challenges faced by many communities, often communities of color.
- Spreading the knowledge of what I learned here [to family and friends] will help me feel good about myself and help my community learn more.
- The program helped me get closer to my dad. By learning more about plants, I can help him with his landscaping business.
- I like chemistry. The program helped me learn that a career in chemistry can help the environment.
- Because of the program, I’m thinking about going into a STEM-based program after high school.
- Anyone can be involved in helping the environment. You don’t have an excuse!
Field Guide Assignment
The final component of the internship was for each student to create two pages for a field guide. The following images include a sampling of the students work on the field guide project.
Supporting the Next Generation of Leaders
The KCFCD’s commitment to funding youth internships reflects our unwavering dedication to advancing environmental justice and nurturing the next generation of leaders. By supporting this initiative, the KCFCD not only addresses the pressing need for equity in the environmental field but also helps develop a skilled and diverse workforce poised to confront future environmental challenges. This partnership with King County to expand the YCC program highlights the powerful impact of strategic investments in youth and environmental stewardship.