Host organizations to train future conservation, climate leaders

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected 28 organizations to host members of USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps, an effort that will train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders, providing technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people and helping them deliver climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers.

Selections were made in partnership with The Corps Network. WLCC is part of President Joe Biden’s historic American Climate Corps initiative and harnesses funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Last month, Biden announced that Americans can now apply to join the American Climate Corps through a newly launched website, ClimateCorps.gov.

“We have a need for skilled conservationists in Illinois to adapt to these changing conditions. The Working Lands Climate Corp will help us do that by providing our youth with the resources they need to become technically proficient, so that they can bring about change and build a resilient landscape for the future of Illinois,” said Illinois State Conservationist Tammy Willis.

The selected host organizations are:

• American Forest Foundation

• Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts

• Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District

• Colorado Department of Agriculture

• Conservation Legacy

• Cornell University / Climate Smart Farming Program

• Ducks Unlimited Inc.

• East Carolina University

• Family Nurturing Center

• Fresno Metro Ministry

• Glynwood Center Inc.

• Michigan Department of Agriculture

• Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation

• Monarch Joint Venture

• Nature for Justice

• Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture / Pasa Sustainable Agriculture

• Pheasants Forever

• Rogue Farm Corps

• Sandhills Area Research Association

• The Curators of the University of Missouri

• The Nature Conservancy

• United Way of Southwest Colorado

• University of Maine System / University of Maine

• Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District

• Utah State University Utah Conservation Corps

• White River Natural Resources Conservation District

• Wild Farm Alliance

• Working Landscapes

Working with partners and host organizations, this effort will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the country, now and in the future.

Some examples of activities include:

• Developing and providing climate-smart agriculture outreach and education to agricultural producers, such as workshops and training sessions.

• Assisting in field surveying, site inspections and easement monitoring.

• Working with conservation professionals to support conservation practice design and conservation planning activities.

AISWCD Partnership

The first class of the American Climate Corps will be deployed to communities across the country in June 2024. Awarded host organizations will work collaboratively with state and county-level Natural Resources Conservation Service staff to facilitate and track the climate work of WLCC members.

Illinois NRCS is collaborating with the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

“AISWCD is proud to link arms with NRCS, NACD and The Corps Network to bring the national Working Lands Climate Corps to Illinois to strengthen communities and transform lives,” said AISWCD Executive Director Michael Woods.

“The WLCC visionary leadership will usher in a new era of community and conservation impact across Illinois and inspire communities across the state served by SWCD to deepen and expand their commitments to conservation and climate resiliency initiatives.”

“As we look at the pressing conservation needs across Illinois, it’s on all of us to remain steadfast in our commitment to create meaningful service opportunities that bring people together, train the next generation of workers and address Illinois’ most pressing natural resource preservation needs,” he said.

“The inaugural program will extend an opportunity to eight conservationists to serve as AISWCD Corps members.”

Training

The WLCC Training Program, led by NACD, will provide training for WLCC members, including a comprehensive overview of conservation concepts, practices and systems, with a strong emphasis on locally led and landscape-scale efforts through virtual learning.

The training will cover a range of specific topics, from understanding diverse types of agriculture to planning effective outreach events and communicating about complex issues like climate change.

The training resources will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to work effectively with diverse stakeholders to advance conservation objectives.

Overall, the program is designed to provide a foundation for those entering the field of conservation, offering a broad overview of the key players, processes and challenges involved.

This WLCC Training Program is in addition to the trainings and resources that will be available to all American Climate Corps members.

Those interested in joining the WLCC can visit the American Climate Corps recruitment portal on the website at www.acc.gov/join to see available opportunities.