Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) is a summer jobs programs for Anchorage teens. Based on the Mayor’s Roadmap to Reopening Anchorage, we are working closely with Anchorage Parks and Recreation to offer this empowering service-learning program under new safety guidelines.
Interviews were held and positions were offered to 5 YEP Senior Crew Members for June, and we plan to employ 21 Crew Members for five weeks, rather than 10 weeks, in July and August. Trail work includes improving the Tour of Anchorage Trail, a new Rabbit Creek Trail connection and continuing work on the Government Hill trails. The crews will also be doing invasive weed removal and revegetation. We are moving forward optimistically, knowing things may change in the weeks to come. Anchorage teens seem remarkably resilient and adaptive to dealing with the stresses of this global health crisis.
For the past 13 years, YEP has provided hundreds of local teens with their first meaningful employment with on-the-job training in natural resources, outdoor experiences, career guidance, and other valuable life skills. We do this with the generous support of many local businesses, individuals and foundations who see the value of investing in our diverse youth and community. We are so grateful for the strength of our supporters. We see incredible personal growth in participants, many of whom return to fill leadership roles in the YEP program. This is evidence that our work matters, that this program has a definable impact on Anchorage teens.
