River Corps-Conservation work by At-Risk Young Adults

The Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) was founded in 1986 and since then has become the national leader in youth and workforce development and alternative education for inner city youth/young adults. The LACC is the largest urban conservation corps in the nation with a full time staff of 150 employees who serve over 17,000 young people each year. The primary purpose of the LACC is "to provide at-risk young adults and school-aged youth with opportunities for success through job skills training, education and work experience with emphasis on conservation and service projects that benefit the community." One of the aspects of the LACC programs is the LA River Corps team. This is a team of 5 youth and 1 supervisor that provides cleanup services, habitat restoration work, and outreach along the LA River. The River Corps program vision lies in the premise that the Los Angeles River environment is an excellent location for training, education and job skill development through classroom and outdoor environmental restoration projects. The youth development program combines outdoor classroom education with hands-on work and service experiences. The LACC has all of the resources (transportation, facilities, connections within communities) and a long-standing reputation within the Los Angeles community as the organization working with youth on the LA River. The River Corps program trains the guides who lead the kayaking tours in the Sepulveda Basin on the LA River.