Creating Long-Term Impact in Eugene

Northwest Youth Corps crews have worked to protect our natural area plantings for the future.

This fall, the Eugene Branch hosted three crews from Northwest Youth Corps, which provides hands-on education and job training in conservation fields to youth and young adults. The crews spent much of their time at our Green Space planting sites making sure the work done to enhance these natural areas continues to have an impact well into the future.

“They’ve done such great work for us and for the City of Eugene,” Eugene Director Erik Burke says. “We really want to show native plant restoration work that looks healthy and cared for so that we can inspire people to plant that way at their homes.”

The work involved weeding and mulching at the planting sites along Northwest Expressway in Eugene, Bob Straub Parkway in Springfield, and in the Bethel neighborhood near Danebo Pond in West Eugene. This work protects the trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants from grass competition and mowers. It also protects pollinator habitat and bridges gaps for wildlife alongside major arterials.

“The members had the opportunity to work alongside great staff who took the time to educate our folks and explain the why behind the work,” says Will Wildebrandt, Urban Community Forestry Program Coordinator for Northwest Youth Corps. “They enjoyed being able to see a visible difference. It feels good to walk away from newly created tree mulch rings knowing they will be crucial in helping those trees grow and reach their full potential.”

The NYC members also had a chance to do neighborhood outreach, connecting with community members about the benefits of trees and green spaces in their neighborhoods.

“In our Urban Community Forestry program, we really care about making people feel more connected to the city they live in,” Will says, “and this project is a great way to build connections with neighbors while sharing the work we are doing with the community.”

“All the youth corps members were excited about the work,” says Taylor Glass, Eugene-Springfield Program Manager. “They were really into trees and could tell that the work was part of something bigger.”

The Eugene team has loved working with the Northwest Youth Corps crews, who have accomplished work that otherwise didn’t have funding. For everyone involved, it shows the power of partnerships to create a lasting impact.