{"id":1009,"date":"2021-04-06T15:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-04-06T19:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.seagrant.w3.uvm.edu\/2021\/04\/06\/building-bridges-to-water-quality-and-conservation-work\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T17:49:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T21:49:17","slug":"building-bridges-to-water-quality-and-conservation-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/2021\/04\/06\/building-bridges-to-water-quality-and-conservation-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Bridges to Water Quality and Conservation Work"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThe\u00a0Vermont Youth Conservation Corps<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0(VYCC)\u00a0<\/span>and Lake Champlain Sea Gran<\/span>t are continuing their partnership<\/span>\u00a0into 2022 with support for the joint<\/span>\u00a0Water Quality<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Careers<\/span>\u00a0Fellowship<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Beginning i<\/span>n\u00a0<\/span>early 2020<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0t<\/span>he fellowship<\/span>\u00a0has<\/span>\u00a0provided direct support to my position as the Water Quality Manager\u00a0<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>VYCC\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0help me\u00a0<\/span>pursue<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>goal of<\/span>\u00a0bu<\/span>ilding br<\/span>idges\u00a0<\/span>for young people to<\/span>\u00a0water quality and conservation<\/span>\u00a0work<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0During the past year, the partnership has built synergies and new approaches to<\/span>\u00a0how both organizations view this<\/span>\u00a0workforce development<\/span>\u00a0mission.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tWith\u00a0<\/span>a tumultuous 2020 behind us<\/span>\u00a0and a new<\/span>\u00a0field season beginning<\/span>\u00a0at VYCC<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0i<\/span>t seems like an appropriate time to share some insights from the last year<\/span>\u00a0and highlight<\/span>\u00a0the ways\u00a0<\/span>in which the<\/span>\u00a0partnership has helped steer<\/span>\u00a0t<\/span>he direction of VYCC<\/span>\u00a0into 2021 and beyond<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tVYCC Backdrop<\/span>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

\n\tThe Vermont Youth Conservation\u00a0<\/span>Corps\u00a0<\/span>has served as a central partner in the protection and enhancement of Vermont\u2019s natural resources<\/span>\u00a0for over 35 years.<\/span>\u00a0Throughout its<\/span>\u00a0history, the VYCC has<\/span>\u00a0also\u00a0<\/span>stayed committed to its\u00a0primary mission of providing young people with the opportunity to learn and grow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tOf course, t<\/span>he challenges facing young people today are not the same as they were in 1985, nor are they the same as they were just a year or two ago.\u00a0<\/span>While COVID-19 has changed nearly every aspect of our daily lives, it has also accelerated certain tr<\/span>ends<\/span>\u00a0and highlighted\u00a0<\/span>vulnerabilities within\u00a0our communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tOne of the biggest challenges\u00a0<\/span>we see\u00a0<\/span>as we look to rebuild from the pandemic is<\/span>\u00a0how<\/span>\u00a0to<\/span>\u00a0ensure a<\/span>\u00a0robust and accessible l<\/span>abor ma<\/span>rket that meets the needs of our environment<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>that addresses\u00a0<\/span>the needs of the next generation of workers.<\/span> This evolving challenge is where the collaboration betwe<\/span>en VYCC and Lake Champlain Sea Grant stands to<\/span>\u00a0provide the<\/span>\u00a0greatest service<\/span>\u2014<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>give young people the resources and support they need to transition into the workforce<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>to engage with<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0industr<\/span>y partners<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>are creating opportunities and\u00a0<\/span>mak<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0difference in our environment<\/span>\u00a0and in our communities<\/span>\u00a0moving forward<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tBuilding the\u00a0Next-Generation\u00a0Workforce<\/span>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

\n\tEach field season, VYCC\u00a0<\/span>employs hundreds of\u00a0<\/span>y<\/span>outh and\u00a0<\/span>y<\/span>oung adult<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0who complete projects in trail building, water quality, forestry, agriculture and food production, and carpentry<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0among other fields<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>While VYCC has a long history of creating powerful experiences for its participants, the organizat<\/span>ion wants to do more to differentiate the experience and outcomes for people who are in different stages of life and careers. This means creating a progression through the organization<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0from a high school student looking for a summer job that gets them general exposure to conservation work, to a young adult looking to expand on their<\/span>\u00a0skill set for a specific job. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tThis also means providing education and training initiatives that support\u00a0this scaffolding of experience. For instance, VYCC is now offering young adult crew positions that spec<\/span><\/span>ialize in\u00a0<\/span>water quality<\/span>\u00a0work<\/span>\u00a0for their whole season<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0W<\/span>e are working closely with Lake Champlain Sea Grant\u2019s Watershed Alliance\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>taff<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>expose these water quality crews<\/span>\u00a0to career opportunities<\/span>\u00a0in the field<\/span>\u00a0and to<\/span>\u00a0curate education initiatives<\/span>\u00a0that help participants\u00a0<\/span>connect with the meaning of their work<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0These crews will also serve as a model for other specialty crew experiences in other sectors at VYCC.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tSupporting\u00a0Next-Generation<\/span>\u00a0Industry<\/span>\u00a0<\/h3>\n

\n\tYet<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>training a capable<\/span>\u00a0wo<\/span>rkforce is only half of the equation<\/span>. It is also critical for us to understand\u00a0<\/span>the needs of the specific industries we work in<\/span>\u00a0and how they may be changing<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0An example of this\u00a0approach is VYCC and Lake Champlain Sea Grant\u2019s\u00a0attention to the growing<\/span>\u00a0Green Stormwater Infrastructure<\/span><\/span>, or G<\/span>SI, industry<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>This technology utilizes natural hydrologic process<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0to reduce the volume and impact of stormwater on\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a0surface water<\/span>s. Learn more about GSI from this Vermont Agency of Natural Resources fact sheet\u00a0(PDF).<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tWith significant\u00a0increases in funding for Vermont\u2019s Clean Water Initiative\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>growing evidence of its efficacy,\u00a0<\/span>use of\u00a0<\/span>GSI<\/span>\u00a0technology<\/span>\u00a0continues<\/span>\u00a0to gain momentum<\/span>\u00a0as a critical part of the solution<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>As<\/span>\u00a0growing<\/span>\u00a0demand<\/span>\u00a0for GSI<\/span>\u00a0requires<\/span>\u00a0more engineers and contractors capable of designing and building<\/span>\u00a0these systems<\/span>, it<\/span>\u00a0will<\/span>\u00a0also require<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>\u00a0knowledgeable labor force ready<\/span>\u00a0to take on the\u00a0<\/span>necessary\u00a0<\/span>long-term operation and maint<\/span>e<\/span>nance tasks<\/span>\u00a0to ensure the systems<\/span>\u00a0function properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tRecogn<\/span>izing the potential growth of the GSI sector in Vermont has allowed VYCC and Lake Champlain Sea Grant\u00a0<\/span>to join forces and<\/span>\u00a0advance conversations at the\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>tate<\/span>\u00a0and local\u00a0<\/span>level<\/span>s<\/span> regarding<\/span>\u00a0operation and maintenance standards, funding mechanisms, and\u00a0<\/span>possible\u00a0<\/span>training<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>certification programs to support this emerging industry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tLooking back at\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0difficult<\/span>\u00a0year we all experienced navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and\u00a0<\/span>the uncertainty it brought with it<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>VYCC is thankful to have resilient and valuable partnerships. B<\/span>uilding pathways for young people into impactful and fulfilling careers\u00a0<\/span>remains\u00a0<\/span>at the forefront of our mission.\u00a0<\/span>The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is thankful for the continued support from Lake Champlain Sea Grant and\u00a0<\/span>enthusiastic<\/span>\u00a0about the year ahead.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tDo you know a young adult looking to get outside, build their skills, and learn on the job this summer? VYCC is now hiring for our Farm Crews, Conservation Crews, and Pro Crews! Some crews work during the day only; others camp out near their work site. Crews take on a diversity of projects from growing vegetables to completing backcountry carpentry projects to trail construction and water quality improvement! Read more and apply:\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span>vycc.org\/apply<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Vermont Youth Conservation Corps\u00a0(VYCC)\u00a0and Lake Champlain Sea Grant are continuing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1653,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-1009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1009"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1330,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions\/1330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1009"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/seagrant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=1009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}