118 High School Students Hit the Field to Build Resiliency in NY & NJ
This week, 118 high school students are headed into the field in New York City and New Jersey to help continue the storm recovery process after Hurricane Sandy.
Last summer, SCA launched the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Program, working with the National Park Service to engage students in restoring Gateway National Recreation Area and other storm-damaged park sites around New York Harbor. This week, the second summer of the program kicked off as seven SCA crews in New York City and five SCA crews in New Jersey hit the field to continue the recovery process and help build long-term resiliency in the region’s public lands.
In partnership with the National Park Service, seven SCA crews will be focusing on Gateway National Recreation Area, with four crews working in Jamaica Bay, two on Staten Island, and one on Sandy Hook. Meanwhile, the NPS Youth Conservation Corps (or YCC crew), will conduct projects around the parks of New York Harbor, and other SCA crews will work in New Jersey at Liberty State Park, Eagle Rock Reservation, Hunterdon County Parks, and Hunterdon State Parks.
For the next six weeks, crew members will be clearing debris from beaches, removing invasive species, and building new trails and infrastructure, all guided by experienced crew leaders. They will also be paid for their work — and have the opportunity to gain job skills and insight into green career opportunities through targeted “Environmental Education” days.
Among other projects, students started off the week eradicating invasive mugwort and building an ADA-compliant ramp to improve accessibility on trails at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. “I have never been more ready to venture into the urban wilderness,” said YCC crew member Amosh Neupane. Follow along this summer as Amosh blogs about his experience… and check out SCA’s NYC Facebook and Twitter pages for updates on how SCA members are building resiliency in New York Harbor, one day at a time.
