Tyler Nicole Smith (middle) and Naima Ozier (right) on a boat ride to Channel Islands

By Sauda Jackson, GYF Youth Programs Manager

Recently I accompanied two interns from the Greening Youth Foundation on a trip across the country to Los Angeles to participate in a recruitment event sponsored by the National Park Service. The college students were Naima Ozier, a junior Writing and Linguistics major from Georgia Southern University, and Tyler Nicole Smith, a sophomore Economics major at Spelman College and L.A. native. The program is one of the major initiatives of the National Park Service’s “Strategic Recruitment Plan,” which stages NPS recruitment events featuring students selected by faculty or staff members from partnering institutions or organizations familiar with the National Park Service and its mission.

Although fun and scenic, this was not a field trip. The Recruitment Event had specific goals, which included the recruitment and training of diverse students from educational institutions and organizations for placement and retention in the National Park Service. There were approximately 75 young people and staff from HBCUs, universities and youth organizations from around the country. Their time was spent learning about the mission of the National Park Service; what it is like to be an NPS employee; what it means to work for the Federal Government; and what the ongoing issues are in National Parks.

The event began with introductions from the staff that had also come from all over the country. The students learned that the Santa Monica Mountain Recreation Area and Channel Islands are located in L.A.’s “backyard.” Our base was the beautiful California State University Channel Islands, where many of the youth had the opportunity to network and get to know each other over games of spades and splashes in the pool. As we visited each site we were given a clearer idea of NPS park employee life, through ranger talks, film and some hands-on activities. As the students engaged each ranger with questions about their duties, they were clued in on the academic requirements for those positions. We participated in a revegetation service project at the Santa Monica site, witnessed a bird capture and tagging project, and hiked the trails.

Capturing a field mouse

When we visited the Paramount Ranch, the location of many Western movies, we learned a bit about the film industry, fire management, law enforcement, and the skills necessary for those positions. The highlight was a hungry squirrel making a strange howling noise while we ate lunch.

We caught a boat to Santa Cruz Island, part of the five Channel Islands located in the Santa Barbara Channel on the Pacific Ocean. GYF participant Naima Ozier got drenched trying to get a good view. “Though I shivered the whole way, I enjoyed my first time being on a boat,” she said.

Along the way we encountered the California sea lion and the great brown pelican. Once on the island we were treated to up close sightings of the Island fox, given a demonstration and crafts lesson by a Chumash Indian elder, and we hiked the four-mile Scorpion Canyon. “After we walked up one of the many hills that dotted the island of Santa Cruz, I was left speechless by the view,” Naima said. “It was spectacular. Though this island was small, barely noticed, it was really beautiful.”

The students learned of the types of jobs and commitment required to take on a position in a remote area of the National Park Service. Each student was paired with a National Park Service mentor from the Recruitment Futures Implementation Team (RFIT). After the event they will be provided with career advice, skills enhancement, and job placement assistance in order to aid them in the NPS hiring process. The goal is that these young participants will commit to summer employment with the National Park Service, as soon as next year.

Though a Los Angeles native, GYF participant Tyler Nicole Smith had never been to either Santa Monica Mountains or Channel Islands National Park. She was so ecstatic about her experiences on the trip that she has committed to continue working with GYF with our school-based educational program through the Bonner Scholars.

By Yan Yang

With the purpose of reducing all forms of personal and community violence, the King Center and Emory University organized The Kingian Nonviolence Teaching and Education Certification for Adults and Youth from July 26 to July 30 at the King Center’s Freedom Hall in Atlanta. Two students from Greening Youth Foundation, Lapetra Bois and Brittany Briscoe, got the opportunity to participate in this program because of the leadership qualities they demonstrated during an internship with GYF.

At the end of the week, Lapetra also received a lovely surprise—because of her completion of the training, she was awarded an all-expense-paid trip next June to South Africa, where the King Center has another center for nonviolence.

The week fused extensive discussions, debates and lectures. Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. and Captain (retired) Charles Alphin, Sr. talked to the students about ways that violence affects the world and its communities. Martin Luther King, III, also attended this training to talk about alternatives to violence.

“He asked me, ‘How are you doing?’ and I said, ‘I am doing GREAT!’ with a big smile,” Lapetra said excitedly. “You do not have this kind of chance so much in your life.”

King told the students that when he was young, he chose to go to Ebenezer Church and be immersed in love, instead of using violence. He also he did a great deal of community service to give back to society. These stories motivated students to be young leaders in reducing violence.

In addition, students had to participate in several debates on such topics as “alternatives to violence” and “how to help the community reduce violence.” Through the sharing of opinions, the students gained a deeper understanding of the philosophy and methodology of nonviolence, as well as skills that they could apply in the future to reduce conflicts.

“I was nervous when I presented, but eventually I overcame the fear,” said Lapetra.

In fact, one goal of the training was to prepare students to conduct a four-hour presentation to their peers and middle school students. The debates helped students improve their presentation skills to achieve this goal.

More than 100 people attended the training, some from as far away as New York. Students communicated with each other extensively to understand their diverse backgrounds and life stories. In the teambuilding activities, Brittany was shocked to find out that some of the peers had friends who were killed in conflicts. This helped the students realize how serious is the issue of violence and urged them to reduce the violence in their communities.

During their internship with GYF, Lepetra and Brittany had actively participated in debate exercises and discussions on teen issues. The Kingian Nonviolence training sharpened their thoughts on current issues and equipped them with skills and motivation to deal with conflict in nonviolent ways.

The superintendent in Chattahoochee talks to GYF interns

By Yan Yang

When the Greening Youth Foundation sent eight young people to work in Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, the mission was clear: chop enough trees at two of the park’s sites so that visitors would be able to see the trenches and cannon imprints from the Civil War.

But more than a month into their internship, the GYF crew has worked with such efficiency and vigor that they have far exceeded expectations. They’ve already cleaned the two assigned sites, 24-Gun Battery and Pigeon Hill, and have moved on to a third one, called Cheatham Hill.

The GYF crew, working through the Youth Conservation Corps in a partnership between GYF and Kennesaw, consists of two college students who are crew leaders and six young people who are current high school students or recent graduates. Stanley Bond, Superintendent of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, explained that the crew’s task was crucial because visitors need to be able to get a sense of the site’s historical significance.

“Unlike other national parks such as Chattahoochee, Kennesaw is a cultural site,” Bond said. “Therefore, we cannot just leave the trees growing on the trace. We need to chop little trees before they are too big.”

The GYF young people have been a great help to Kennesaw. Team leader Derek Cox, a student at LaGrange College, said the team is very hardworking. “At first, the plan was three weeks in 24 Gun Battery and three weeks in Pigeon Hill,” he said. “But we finished both sites in four weeks.”

Their first day on the job, the trees were so dense that when a heavy downpour reached the park, the crew could only feel a light drizzle. The young people said clearing trees can be very tiring, especially when the temperature is over 90 degrees. Everyday, Derek has to get up at 4:30 am to pick up his fellow co-workers. Together they start work at 7:30 am. The team is made up of four boys and four girls; the young people say they have worked together very well. Usually boys cut trees and girls move them out of the forest.

“It is very rewarding to see a site clean after one day’s hard work,” said Derek.

The superintendent also had high praise for their progress. “They did a great job!” Superintendent Bond said. “I wish they could continue working for us.”

Now visitors can clearly see the trenches at 24-Gun Battery

At times the crew has encountered some danger in the forest, such as colonies of bees hidden by leaves or dead wood and even a 6-foot black snake. Face to face with the snake, the crew member moved out of its way and simply stared.

“But in general, working in the forest is fun,” Derek said. “We can even see deer now and then.”

In addition to hard labor, these youngsters also have opportunities to explore careers in the National Park Service. Every Friday, a guest speaker comes to talk about such topics as how to start a career in the NPS, how to conserve natural resources, and what a superintendent does. Also, the youngsters visit other national parks to learn about the history and the projects there. Everyone agreed that the day in Chattahoochee was the most interesting and relaxing since they listened to stories about the site while they were rafting the winding river.

The young people said they are grateful that their eyes have been opened up to the need to preserve our national parks and also to possible careers in conservation.

Since nine youngsters from the Mayor’s Youth Program began working with the Greening Youth Foundation in early June, their summer has been filled with an impressive diversity of interesting activities.

As an environmental non-profit organization, GYF aims to transform students into future stewards of the environment. With the eight high school students and one college student intern from the Mayor’s Youth Program, GYF also hopes to deliver working skills and direct students to the right track in their educational careers. To that end, GYF structured a summer work experience filled with a variety of activities so that the students not only learn about environment, conservation, and beautification, but also explore different businesses and get counseling for future careers.

To combine learning with pleasure, GYF partnered with Providence Missionary Baptist Church to teach the students how to grow crops. In the first class, students were taught how to recognize some common vegetables and fruits. They also weeded morning glories in the peanut field. Since the students have only seen produce in the supermarket, this experience helped connect them with nature.

Youngsters working in the garden of Providence Missionary Baptist Church.

In another class, Ruth Kitchen, GYF’s Education Director, introduced them to a bin of worms in the soil to teach them about composting. Students were asked to pick the worms out from soil, put them in another bin and feed them with cabbage. The odor, along with their fear and excitement, made this lesson memorable. Through these intimate “conversations” with the environment, students can feel the wonder of nature and realize the importance of protecting the environment.

In addition to environment-related projects, students have had the opportunity to explore different Atlanta businesses and service the community. Every week, several students volunteer in WRFG, a local radio station. They not only help clean and answer the phones, but they also learn about the organization of a radio station and about career opportunities in mass communications. Everyone who works at WRFG is completely voluntary. There are no paid employees. Community members buy CDs and broadcast them through the station simply because they love music. The students were surprised to learn that some people have worked there for as long as 20 years. WRFG is a great example of dedication and passion, which are the crucial qualities in any career.

Another stimulating activity that has engaged the students have been weekly debates on environmental issues. Divided into two groups, students do research on the Internet and present their arguments, rebuttals, and conclusions. The presentations have given the students the opportunity to work on their public speaking.

“I was nervous and shivering,” said Traniqua Bolston, “but it was a good experience.”

In the third week, the students debated on a public street corner in Little Five Points, recreating the old street-corner soapbox speakers who used to be prevalent in many cities. Facing this challenge, the students performed very well. Sauda Jackson, GYF’s Youth Programs Manager, recalled that some of them showed great improvement in their presentations. Before this summer program, most of them would not have been willing to speak in public. However, now they can speak more clearly and exude an aura of confidence, which will be helpful in most careers.

Debate on a public street

From picking up trash in Inman Park Station to regular neighborhood jogs, from volunteering in different organizations to receiving career counseling, the youngsters from the Mayor’s Youth Program are having a memorable summer that undoubtedly will have a positive impact on their future endeavors.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

DENVER — Question: How  can inner city youth make a difference regarding the future of some national parks in Colorado involving light bulbs?

Answer: Six motivated young people from urban Denver, on a mission, through four Colorado national parks in June that is part “green” activism, part outdoor adventure, and part American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic “stimulus” work.

The Green Renewable Energy Efficiency Network, or GREEN Project, is a joint effort of the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service (NPS) and the Greening Youth Foundation (GYF) of Atlanta. GYF works to develop awareness and appreciation of the natural environment, including national parks, among urban and minority youth. The foundation sponsors youth-outdoors events and helps young people find internships and jobs in the field.

In this case, six young adults from the Denver area will replace thousands of less-efficient incandescent lamps in the parks with fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights. The GREEN Project is a pilot venture that GYF hopes to repeat elsewhere in the country to train, employ and inspire more young people.

The $155,000 project ($116,000 funded through the NPS and $39,000 in matching grants from GYF) is being paid for with some of the more than $750 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds being spent this year and next on national park work projects across the United States.

This month, the corps of young adults (Sabrina Roy, Chic Dion Salibellas, JHarmon Smith, Michael Garza, Traemon McCabe and Raymond Bowels) have begun swapping out conventional incandescent light bulbs and older fluorescent components for more energy-efficient ballasts and lamps at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area, with joint headquarters in Gunnison, CO.

Once they finish their initial work there, the GREEN Project team will head to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve outside Alamosa, CO, to do the same thing. From there, it will be on to Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, CO.

Toward the end of the month, project organizers expect the team will have enough time to return through the parks a second time to finish any buildings and other locations they could not get to the first time.

Along the way, the six will learn more about the National Park System in a hands-on laboratory environment. On the weekends, the youth corps members will camp out and hike in the parks, learning “Leave No Trace” land stewardship principles for protecting the natural resources of the outdoors.

This success story is one that has the potential to change the future of many national parks across the entire National Park System by training and employing urban youth from different metropolitan areas and giving those individuals a unique exposure to the wonders of their National Parks,” said Kim Sliniger, ARRA manager for the Intermountian Region of the National Park Service.

“Greening Youth Foundation is excited about its partnership with the National Park Service for the Colorado GREEN Project,” said Angelou Ezeilo, executive director and founder of the foundation. “The GREEN Project will provide 21^st-century job skills training to these young adults and expose them to four different national parks. Simply put, this project epitomizes the very reason Greening Youth Foundation was founded: To provide access for diverse youth across the country to the many opportunities that exist in the environmental field.”

Changing light bulbs on this scale – more than 3,000 new ballasts and lamps – is no joke. Before leaving in June for their first stop, the young people spent most of May in the Denver area, where they trained in various OSHA safe-workplace procedures, Operational Leadership and other work skills. Much of their labor will involve climbing ladders and working in tight quarters. In May, the team visited Rocky Mountain National Park outside Estes Park, CO, to do a “dry run” for the lamp-changing project.

The six were chosen from more than 60 applicants in the Denver area and are supervised by two youth corps leaders.

CONTACTS:

– James Doyle, National Park Service: 303-969-2321; 303-594-9309, james_doyle@nps.gov

– Nick Chiles, Greening Youth Foundation: 404-254-4827; 678-333-1424, nchiles@gyfoundation.org

GYF Executive Director Angelou Ezeilo receives the Inspiring Woman award from Toby Wyman, Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA, on June 4

Foundation is putting youth to work

GYF's Kennesaw Mountain crew

By Yan Yang

In perhaps the gloomiest year since the Great Depression for high school and college students looking for summer jobs, Greening Youth Foundation is turning out to be a savior for dozens of Atlanta-area young people. Through a variety of paid summer internships, the Atlanta foundation will employ a total of 37 young adults over the next several months. These internships, all in areas related to the environment, will give these young people a chance to connect to the outdoors, service the community, develop marketable skills, and get valuable exposure to possible careers.

According to the New York Times, the unemployment rate for the 16-to-24 age group hit 19.6 percent in April, double the national average. State and local governments desperate to stay afloat have made massive cuts in job programs, while private employers are still reluctant to hire without solid proof of a real economic recovery. As a result, the number of teenagers in the labor force this summer may fall below 30 percent—well below the traditional number of more than 50 percent.

“Everyone has fond memories of their summer jobs as they grew up. For almost half of this generation, that has been lost,” Neil Sullivan, executive director of the Boston Private Industry Council, told the Times.

However, Greening Youth Foundation is bringing welcome relief to local teens. Partnering with the National Park Service, GYF has initiated the Youth Conservation Corps, Youth Internship Programs and Junior Ranger Programs at numerous sites in Georgia, Florida and Colorado.

In Colorado, eight young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds are being trained in life skills, conservation, and land preservation and working at NPS sites throughout the state, primarily swapping thousands of less efficient incandescent lamps in the parks with fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights. At Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Site in Atlanta, one college student is working in the Junior Ranger Program to do research at the site, and two are in a Youth Internship Program to work on resource protection projects. At Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Georgia, two college students are in the Junior Ranger Program, joining eight students in the Youth Conservation Corps to help in the removal of invasive plants to preserve historical earth works. In addition, four students will intern in Florida’s Everglades National Park. In the fall, two graduate students will intern at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in a job shadow experience. GYF also hopes to place eight youth at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and one intern at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The intent is for all of these young adults to gain insight on careers within NPS.

Carlis Brandon volunteered in a clothing store near the GYF office

In GYF’s Atlanta office, nine high school students and one college student from the Mayor’s Youth Program are involved in an 8-week program that aims to educate them about the environment, conservation, beautification, as well as work skills and ethics. When asked what they hope to get out of this experience, students said that they would like to learn about the environment and acting eco-friendly in the future. Other students expressed that they wanted to hone teamwork skills and acquaint themselves with work environment. None of these students has previous work experience. Therefore, lessons on conduct, appearance, attitude, and analytical thinking will be provided to help them develop essential skills. Sauda Jackson, GYF’s Youth Programs Manager, added that it is important to guide them on the right track at this age, the time when they need to apply to colleges and decide which careers they want to pursue in the future.

“Now they only see a small part of world,” Jackson said. “They need to get a bigger view.”

GYF Executive Director Angelou Ezeilo said the foundation is investing in youth, especially under-served ones, at this critical time so that these teenagers can change the view of their roles in the society and know their responsibility. “We see value in this, not just money,” Ezeilo said. “We want to let them impact, contribute and give back to the community.”

Looking through a shell

By Ruth Kitchen, GYF Education Director

More than 500 people flocked to Brookwood Elementary School in Snellville, Georgia, on April 17 to attend Greening Youth Foundation’s 2^nd Annual Earth Day Fun Festival. The event was a rousing success, due to the hard work of the volunteers, vendors, educators and community members who came out to support Greening Youth, as well as the enthusiasm of youngsters from Brookwood Elementary, Craig Elementary and Crews Middle School.

Around 11 AM, people began to arrive at the front of Brookwood to embark on their Earth Day Fun Festival Journey. In a very organized fashion, electronics, plastic bags, tennis shoes, paper, cardboard and batteries were dropped off at the designated stations. Parents were happy to get the stuff out of the house and children were thrilled to receive tickets to play carnival games. Already a win-win!

Parents dropping off computers to recycle.

The recycling event ended with the impressive accumulation of the following:

Electronics………………………………..5,204 lbs.

Shredded Paper……………………………1.4 Tons

Plastic Bags……………………………….400 lbs.

Recycled/Nike Shoes……………………..120 Pairs

Reusable/Haiti Shoes……………………..150 Pairs

Batteries…………………………………..Over 200 lbs.

Sneakers!

The families continued to the back of the school where the children picked up a passport.  They were encouraged to visit with the various eco-vendors and eco-educators to learn more about their green initiatives. We were thrilled with the participation of the following:

• EcoOrchards

• Cartridge World

Girls dance with Cartridge World mascot

• Shar Mallory-Fossils

• Rivers Alive

• Adopt a Stream

• Gorilla Sacks

• Pure Green Solutions

• Endangered Species Specialist- Dennis Krusac

• Wellness Resources

• Recycooler

• Rancho Alegre Farm

• Recycle Michael

• I Care Bags

• Laurene Hall-Recycle Aluminum Art

Upon completion of their passport, the students returned to the passport table to receive a donated REI reusable bag. Of course, they were eyeing all those fun carnival games and prizes further in the back! Plant Walk, Polluted Fish Pond, Spiderman Obstacle Course, Face Painting, here they come!

Throughout the day, the crowd was entertained by exuberant young dancers from Clogging Connection and harmonious vocalists from Brookwood’s and Craig’s choirs.  The audience was mesmerized by the inspirational and vibrant performances.

Clogging Connection

Because of all the excitement taking place outdoors, people forgot about eating.  Numerous announcements were made to encourage the ingestion of the fabulous BBQ sandwiches, popcorn, pretzels, cotton candy and pizza. Yum!  Once a few ventured in and spread the word, the lines began to form.

Towards the end of the day, the Eco-Forcers from the participating schools began to gather to share their creative recyclable costumes. Plastic shirts, dresses, pants, hats, and shoes were the rage. Foiled hats, canes and jewelry glistened in the sun as they paraded by. Their vocal chords were ready for a much needed rest after screaming the 3 R’s—reduce, reuse, recycle—to the crowd.

Dropping off sneakers for recycling

Greening Youth Foundation is appreciative of our sponsors: Kroger, REI, STA Apparel, Apex Marketing, Crystal Springs Water, Stubbs BBQ Sauce, the volunteers, parents, community members, board members, teachers, Eco-Vendors, Eco-Educators, and our Eco-Force club members for helping to put on such an enjoyable and informative community event.

Angelou Ezeilo with Queen Quet, Chieftess of Gullah Geechee Nation

As the Executive Director of the Greening Youth Foundation, I was invited to attend the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors on April 17th. I eagerly journeyed to Washington to participate in crucial discussions about the importance of connecting both people of color as well as youth to the outdoors and the Green Revolution. Newark Mayor Cory Booker was there. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was there, too, as were the heads of the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency. And President Barack Obama even addressed the crowd and signed a Memorandum committing the administration to supporting community efforts to protect our nation’s beautiful green spaces while connecting people and our youth to the outdoors.

What an incredible experience meeting and interacting with an administration that is passionate about connecting people and the next generation to the outdoors AND supporting grass roots organizations like GYF. Exciting times! However, must keep up the pressure so that the wonderful initiatives that are being mandated at a national level trickle down regionally and locally—so that the community FEELS the change!

Remarks by The President at America’s Great Outdoors Conference

Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.

10:17 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Please, everybody have a seat.  Thank you.

It is a great privilege to join [you] for this conference on America’s Great Outdoors.  There are a number of people that obviously I want to acknowledge here who have worked tirelessly to move this agenda forward.  At the top of our list, our Secretary of the Interior — who I believe is going to be one of the best Secretaries of Interior in American history — Ken Salazar, who has just fully embraced this issue, we’re thrilled with the work he’s done.  Thank you.  Thank you, Ken.  (Applause.)

Secretary Tom Vilsack, Administrator Lisa Jackson, Nancy Sutley — all have been part of what we call our “green team,” and are consistently providing creative ideas to make sure that we understand that conservation is not contrary to economic growth, it is an integral part of economic growth.  And they have just done a fabulous job on that so please give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)

We have my outstanding NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco.  We have Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy.  Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and the Environment, Dr. Dorothy Robyn.  And in the audience, if I’m not mistaken, we’ve got some luminaries.  Is Governor Bill Richardson in the house?  There he is — from New Mexico, a great conservationist.  (Applause.)  Former Secretary of the Interior, Secretary Bruce Babbitt is here.  (Applause.)  One of the finest young mayors in the country, Mayor Cory Booker.  (Applause.)  And to all the outstanding members of Congress who have been so diligent in promoting a conservation agenda.

Angelou with Sally Jewell, REI President and CEO

Now, I am mindful that the first such conference was held over one century ago by one of my favorite Presidents, one of our greatest Presidents — and certainly our greatest conservation President.  Upon taking office, Theodore Roosevelt –- avid birdwatcher, bear hunter –- set out on a tour of the American West that would change his life and the life of a nation forever.

He stood in awe of the geysers at Yellowstone.  He camped in a snow blizzard at Yosemite.  He stood on the lip of the Grand Canyon.  “The ages have been at work on it,” he declared.  “Man can only mar it.”

And from that sense of commitment sprang five national parks, 18 national monuments, 51 federal bird reservations, and 150 national forests.  From that commitment sprang an effort to save the great Redwoods of California and the Petrified Forest of Arizona, the great bird rocks of the Aleutian Islands and the Tongass of Alaska.  From that commitment sprang a breathtaking legacy of conservation that still enhances our lives.

Now, that legacy is an extraordinary achievement -– and no matter how long I have the privilege of serving as President, I know I can never match it.  And I will probably never shoot a bear.  (Laughter.)  That’s a fair bet there, fair guess.  (Laughter.)  But I do intend to enrich that legacy, and I feel an abiding bond with the land that is the United States of America.

The Black and Brown "Green" Team

I do, for the same reasons that all of you do; for the same reason families go outside for a picnic or campers spend a night in a national park, and sportsmen track game through the woods or wade deep into a river.  It’s a recognition passed down from one generation to the next, that few pursuits are more satisfying to the spirit than discovering the greatness of America’s outdoors.

And when we see America’s land, we understand what an incredible bounty that we have been given.  And it’s our obligation to make sure that the next generation enjoys that same bounty.

That recognition has been a touchstone of this presidency thanks to the outstanding leadership of Ken Salazar and Secretary Vilsack and Lisa Jackson and Nancy Sutley.  They have done extraordinary work.

Last year, I signed into law a public lands bill –- the most significant in decades -– that designated 2 million acres of wilderness, over 1,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers, and three national parks.  We better protected cherished places like Oregon’s Mount Hood.  We’re taking a new approach to our National Forests to make sure they’re not just providing timber for lumber companies, but water and jobs for rural communities.  We are restoring our rivers and coasts, from the Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf Coast, from the Great Lakes to the Everglades.

Angelou with Charles Thomas of Outward Bound LA

So, yes, we are working faithfully to carry on the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt in the 21st century.  But we also know that we must adapt our strategies to meet the new challenges of our time.  Over the last century, our population grew from about 90 million to 300 million people, and as it did, we lost more and more of our natural landscape to development.  Meanwhile, a host of other factors –- from a changing climate to new sources of pollution -– have put a growing strain on our wildlife and our waters and our lands.

So rising to meet these challenges is a task and an obligation, but it’s one that government cannot and should not meet alone.  There are roughly 1,600 privately run land trusts in this country that have protected over 10 million acres through voluntary efforts.  And by working with farmers and ranchers and landowners, the Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program has protected over 30 million acres, and its Natural Resource Conservation Service -– a service that is 75 years old this year –- has protected almost 3 million more.  So together, we are conserving our working lands in a way that preserves the environment and protects local communities.

And that’s the kind of collaborative spirit at the heart of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative that we’re launching today.  In the months ahead, members of this administration will host regional listening sessions across America.  We’ll meet with everybody — from tribal leaders to farmers, from young people to businesspeople, from elected officials to recreation and conservation groups.  And their ideas will help us form a 21st century strategy for America’s great outdoors to better protect our natural landscape and our history for generations to come.

Angelou with Roger Rivera, President and Founder of National Hispanic Environmental Council

Understand, we’re not talking about a big federal agenda being driven out of Washington.  We’re talking about how we can collect best ideas on conservation; how we can pursue good ideas that local communities embrace; and how we can be more responsible stewards of tax dollars to promote conservation.

First, we’re going to build on successful conservation efforts being spearheaded outside of Washington -– by local and state governments, by tribes, and by private groups -– so we can write a new chapter in the protection of rivers, wildlife habitats, historic sites, and the great landscapes of our country.

Secondly, we’re going to help farmers, ranchers, property owners who want to protect their lands for their children and their grandchildren.

Third, we’ll help families spend more time outdoors, building on what the First Lady has done through the “Let’s Move” initiative to encourage young people to hike and bike and get outside more often.

And fourth, we want to foster a new generation of community and urban parks so that children across America have the chance to experience places like Millennium Park in my own Chicago.

We’re launching this strategy because it’s the right thing to do -– because, as TR said, we must not mar the work of the ages.  But we’re also doing it because it’s the right thing to do for our economy.  It’s how we’re going to spur job creation in the tourism industry and the recreation industry.  It’s how we’ll create jobs preserving and maintaining our forests, our rivers, our great outdoors.

In a time of great difficulty, when we are recovering from the worst recession in generations, and waging two wars abroad, some may ask whether now is the time to reaffirm our commitment to our national heritage.  But I want everybody to recall, it was in the midst of civil war that Abraham Lincoln set aside lands that are now Yosemite.  It was in midst of a great depression that FDR formed the Civilian Conservation Corps that built the trails and campgrounds and parks we enjoy today.

Even in times of crisis, we’re called to take the long view to preserve our national heritage –- because in doing so we fulfill one of the responsibilities that falls to all of us as Americans, and as inhabitants of this same small planet.  And that is the responsibility that we are rising to meet today.

So thank you all for the outstanding work that you’re doing individually.  I look forward to the work that you’re going to be doing collectively and advising this administration.  Thank you.  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

Student winners from MLK High School

Martin Luther King High School was a big winner at the ceremony for the Greening Youth Foundation’s environmental video contest, which took place on Friday, May 7, at the Martin Luther King National Historic Site.

Clearly inspired by their namesake, students from King High School in Lithonia produced an impressive short-form movie for the contest, which challenged them to come up with a video or Powerpoint answer to the question: If Dr. King were alive today, how would he approach current environmental issues? King High School won in the category of best high school presentation and also for most creative presentation.

More than 120 people, including students and staff from several Atlanta and Dekalb schools, gathered for the ceremony under a big tent outside the visitors center at the Martin Luther King National Historic Site.

Atlanta City Council member Kwanzaa Hall, sporting his GYF t-shirt

Before the awards were handed out, Atlanta City Council member Kwanzaa Hall addressed the crowd, telling the students that he was encouraged by their efforts to “green our community.”

“You are the best ambassadors for this initiative,” Hall said. “The world is your oyster; the future is yours. It’s up to you all to be the environmental engineers and the marine biologists who are going to help us solve our environmental problems. Without you, the world won’t be all it can be.”

Student winners from Cook Elementary pose with Superintendent Judy Forte

In addition to Martin Luther King High School, other winners were Ed Cook Elementary in Atlanta for best elementary school presentation, BEST Academy in Atlanta for best middle school, and the Girl Scouts Troop of Brumby Elementary in Cobb County for best after-school club. The winning schools received beautiful engraved glass trophies; and the students each received Junior Ranger badges and patches from the National Park Service.

Angelou Ezeilo, Executive Director of the Greening Youth Foundation, told the gathering that she was “floored” by the quality of their presentations.

“Your creativity is amazing,” she said. “I look out at you all and know that you are our future environmental leaders. I know you will be thinking of the next thing that will preserve our national resources.”

Student winners from BEST Academy

In a moving speech, Judy Forte, Superintendent of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, told the students about the lessons that her parents passed along to her and her six brothers and sisters, “that the blessings of the earth do not come free.”

“They taught us that we must serve as faithful stewards of the earth and if we do, it will sustain us, season after season,” Forte said. “Yet today, people are breaking this expectation. Mistakes such as the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are impacting man, plant and animal life along the Gulf Coast, the carbon from the cars we drive is polluting our air and making it difficult for many of us to breath, and the chemicals that are in our food are putting our world—and our way of life—in danger. The places we love, the resources on which we rely, the peoples of the world who are most vulnerable, are all at risk if we do not take action. That is why I am so pleased to partner with the Greening Youth Foundation.  With our Greening Youth partners, we have the opportunity to introduce young people to the National Park Service, expose them to their heritage, as well as to the land their ancestors helped to build.”

Superintendent Judy Forte and GYF Executive Director Angelou Ezeilo

To help inspire the students for the contest, the Greening Youth Foundation launched a partnership effort to bring the students to the MLK National Historic Site in Atlanta, a unit of the National Park Service. The foundation called the contest the “Environmental Series at the MLK Jr. National Historic Site.” Over the past three months, students visited the historic site to learn about King’s life by touring his birth home, his tomb and other important markers in his life and by watching an inspirational video about the Civil Rights Movement. They also met with Park Rangers and Superintendent Forte.

The public school students were members of GYF’s Eco-Force® Clubs that currently operate in elementary, middle and high schools throughout Metro Atlanta.

Girl Scouts winners from Brumby Elementary in Cobb County