Participating Reserve: Sedgwick Reserve
Funded by: The Fredric E. Steck Family Foundation
Participating Institutions: LACC, UC Santa Barbara
Online Information: http://www.lacorps.org

Established in 1986, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to providing at-risk young adults and school-aged youth with opportunities for success. “Corps members” learn new job skills, explore educational opportunities, gain work experiences that focus on conservation and service, and discover the diversity of southern California’s natural resources. In the course of the program, they experience personal growth, while making important contributions to the greater Los Angeles area.

Launched in the spring of 2005, the UCSB-LACC Natural Reserve Science Education Program brings inner city youth to the Sedgwick Reserve for weekend programs that integrate restoration fieldwork, environmental science education, and college preparedness training. The weekends are followed by a two-week summer internship in July for selected students on the UC Santa Barbara campus. Program goals are to:

• Introduce participants to a range of natural sciences in contextual settings
• Educate participants on environmental science careers and college opportunities
• Encourage interactive learning and intellectual curiosity
• Encourage excitement about the environmental sciences
• Develop an understanding of applied science in a natural reserve setting
• Identify students best suited for University of California summer internships
• Assist students to develop skills that will enhance their opportunities for college.

While at Sedgwick Reserve, students are guided by volunteer docents who have received extensive training in the area’s natural history. They then conduct a project at the native plant nursery, investigate propagation techniques for native plants, collect seeds for future restoration projects, meet with scientists conducting research at the reserve, take cross-country hikes to learn about the area’s natural history, enjoy a star-viewing session with astronomy experts, and hear a presentation from the UCSB Campus Admissions staff on preparing for college.

Program participants are high school freshmen and sophomores selected from the LACC’s “Clean and Green” Program. Fully 94 percent of the participants are nonwhite and 31 percent live below the poverty line. Three to four LACC team leaders accompany each group to assist with the program. Piloted in 2005 for 60 students, the program will be expanded to include 100 students in 2006.