In partnership with the National Park Foundation, Conservation Legacy engaged young Americans through paid service and volunteer stewardship projects through the Love Your Park Conservation Corps (LYPCC) program. The LYPCC highlights, improves, and preserves National Trails and unique visitor experiences. Through projects identified as critical to visitor use, visitor safety and engagement of new visitors, the LYPCC focused on infrastructure and stewardship projects at various National Park Service Locations.

For Immediate Release: November 12, 2019 | Durango, Colorado

Conservation Legacy’s Board of Directors announced today the appointment of current Chief Programs Officer Rob Spath as Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective November 15, 2019.

November 1, 2019 | Our very own Brenna Kelly, Corps Director of Southeast Conservation Corps, is featured in the Get Out features of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Within the past three issues of Get Out, we have featured a different conservation group's newly hired executive director — and all have been women. That got us wondering, are women leading the local conservation scene? Based on our tally — yes.

October 16, 2019 | A local stream cleanup left Flagstaff looking a little cleaner. On Thursday, members of the community put on gloves and grabbed trash bags to collect trash littered along the banks of Sinclair Wash.

October 13, 2019 | The Russian olive – which can grow 35 feet tall – is native to East Asia and Russia and typically overtakes native species, including willows and cottonwoods. It has a vast underground root system, and its stumps can send out shoots if not treated with pesticide. The tree originally was introduced as early as the 1960s as an ornamental plant and also was used as a windbreak.

MSI has spearheaded Colorado-based efforts to eradicate the plant throughout the Animas River Valley since 2016, often partnering with the Southwest Conservation Corps. In 2017, MSI was awarded a grant from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife for a three-year removal project. The organization estimates it has cleared 290 acres of Russian olives in the Animas River watershed and removed about 4,000 stems.

October 9, 2019 | There are moments on Utah’s San Juan River when conversations fall silent, the wind calms, and the only sound you can hear is the drip of water off the oars. And in mellow stretches when even rowing is unnecessary, the rafts can be left to twirl beneath towering limestone walls. Time stretches out and seems to come unwound until the piercing call of a peregrine falcon breaks through the silence.

October 3, 2019 | CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today Duke Energy announced $807,000 in grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation to 22 organizations to strengthen the health of our environment and increase access to nature in North Carolina.

“North Carolina’s natural resources are a state treasure, and by collaborating with our trusted nonprofit partners we can accomplish more to protect and preserve species, habitats and water sources,” said Stephen De May, NC president, Duke Energy. “We’re working to ensure that future generations enjoy and benefit from all that North Carolina’s natural wonders have to offer.”

September 26, 2019 | National Public Lands Day is being recognized Saturday at Little Beaver State Park, with stewardship projects and a celebration of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

The event is being hosted by Stewards Individual Placement Program and West Virginia Rivers Coalition. 

"West Virginia’s outstanding public lands are vital to the state; providing green spaces and acting as important economic drivers," the release said. "West Virginia would not have these special places without the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which uses revenue generated from federal oil and gas leases to purchase and maintain public lands."

September 25, 2019 | Hanging Rock State Park was brilliantly built in the 1930s by the original CCCs (Civilian Conservation Corps). The park was lucky enough to have the opportunity to house a new edition of the CCCs in this five-person CCNC crew with a crew leader this month. The crew set up their camping tents just yards away from the original CCC Camp 3422 and reported for duty. Their first assignment was to hike Ruben Mountain trail and de-berm, which is to remove the hump of soil that collects at the edge of the trail and prevents water from sheeting off properly.

September 25, 2019 | The construction of Baileys Trail will help with the ecotourism industry in Athens and Southeast Ohio.

Southeast Ohio hosts thousands of visitors each year all coming in for ecotourism, which is a form of tourism that recreates in and fosters healthy ecosystems, equitable community development and fair financial gains. Activities include hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and appreciating nature.