Philadelphia, PA

Darby Creek Annual Clean Up at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

It was a great turn out to celebrate Earth Day 2012 here in the city of Philadelphia.

We had 200 volunteers come out to support the event; 40 Alumni, SCA Leaders/Staff and New Potential SCA Summer Members, 20 ARAMARK Volunteers, and 140 Community Members. Everyone participated in collecting trash and debris from the Darby Creek and surrounding areas.

250 cubic yards of clean up was collected from the refuge... that equates to about 9 tons of trash -- approximately 3 full dumpsters of random trash items; pieces of metal, bottles, cans, tires, toy big wheels, bowling balls and much more!

Collectively this group of volunteers accumulated about 700 total hours of service.

People certainly worked hard, many came back muddy and sweaty when the event was complete.

More importantly, SCA, John Heinz staff and community members helped to restore the refuge home and habitat to many wildlife animals in Pennsylvania.

It was awesome to get everyone together to be productive. The weather was perfect, sunny high 70’s. After all the hard work we had free lunch served; hot dogs, chips and a nice cold drinks, it was the perfect ending to a great day.

Here’s your chance to be part of a program that promotes youth leadership and conservation! The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a dynamic, nonprofit national organization which encourages and supports youth in service to the environment.

SCA is NOW seeking qualified applicants to participate, lead, educate, and inspire in our summer program.

TO VOLUNTEER:

For emails about upcoming events and useful program information on how to volunteer, please register with the following link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?pli=1&formkey=
dEtYS1BVbE1lZnZhSHdScDk1QkU1dGc6MQ#gid=0

-Multiple Adult Crew Leaders (21 +)

-Multiple Student Crew Members (high school students ONLY)

CREW MEMBER POSITION

TO APPLY: Complete the your member registration by following the link below

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDhhS29EMWsxa0ViNEFHNWd3bzBZUnc6MQ#gid=0

TO APPLY: Go online to www.thesca.org/user

For questions email:  philadelphia(at)thesca.org

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By KYW's Karin Phillips

The official launch was held Tuesday morning for a program that introduces urban youth to "green" jobs.

High school kids in light blue t-shirts worked to clean up the area in front of the Valley Green Inn, in Wissahickon Valley Park. They are part of the Conservation Leadership Corps, a group of 50 local high school kids working at green jobs in area parks, including removal of invasive plants, picking up litter, and gardening.

Valerie Bailey (at left in photo) is executive vice president of the Student Conservation Association:

"When they end their summer, they would have gained quite a number of things. They will have learned some real job readiness skills."

Fifteen-year-old Lemiah Tucker of West Philadelphia has been working in Valley Forge Park. She says the great outdoors is something brand new for her:

"Maybe I'll volunteer down the road and help work with animals on the outside. I like this!"

Kobi Amissah of West Philadelphia, also 15, has been working along the Bala Cynwd Trail:

"I had orginally planned on being a lawyer but this is shaping me. Yeah. It might be possible in my future."

Local Walmart representative Tony Tenaglia (at right in photo):

"This is fantastic! And with the weather that we had this weekend, and the work that they are able to do today, it's obvious that it's needed."

Walmart donated $170,000 for the program.

(Photo by KYW's Karin Phillips)