Conservation Corps around the world: Improve the environment through specific conservation work projects; and raise people's consciousness about their environment.

Conservation Corps are an important part of a nation's effort to promote environmental awareness and while addressing specific local needs, thus providing ample opportunity for adoption to local conditions. In addition corps are a powerful tool to teach environmentally beneficial job skills. Learning by doing is the underlying educational principal of Conservation Corps.

Partners of the Americas has been committed to helping local non-governmental organizations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean organize and start Conservation Corps.

The following principles guided Partners in the development of corps:

• Corps should be available to the entire spectrum of society;
• Corps should provide an opportunity for people to become actively involved with the environment, through work and study;
• Corps should increase the participants' consciousness of their world and the need to protect it through specific physical and reflective interactions with it;
• Service to society and altruism are fostered when participants feel that they are making a difference; that what they are doing is for a greater good, and not motivated politically or financially.

In 1989, Partners began the promotion of corps in Central America. In 1993, Partners was awarded a grant by US/AID to develop Conservation Corps in Mexico. The purpose of the Partner's Conservation Corps program was to promote the development of Corps in Mexico and other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Conservation Corps are generally organized by the people who participate in them and become interested in organizing or strengthening local corps after participation in a conservation camp which is a fundamental component of the program. Conservation camps were work camps that contracted with environmental organizations, government and non-government agencies, and communities to complete specific environmental projects. Work Camps provided people 16 years and older the opportunity to protect their environment and learn new conservation skills while working on environmental projects. They were also organized to provide jobs and training that resulted in jobs. They were intensive month long or yearlong programs; they could also be run during a weekend.

Conservation camps had three major components:

1. Conservation Work

Crews of 12 to 14 people, who worked in one or more of the following project areas:

a. Conservation Crew: Teams assigned to specific conservation projects such as tree planting, trail construction, erosion control, etc.

b. Community service crew: Teams that worked with communities to plan and carry out projects. For example: park development and maintenance, community gardens, school beautification, and stream clean up.

c. Infrastructure crew: Groups that worked on the construction or repair of buildings and other building projects in public areas and natural reserves.

2. Environmental Education/Training

Every Corps activity dedicated time to environmental education. In the conservation camps for example, afternoons were dedicated to environmental learning activities. These activities were generally divided into three areas:

• Environmental Studies; lectures and discussions by respected authorities on topics of critical environmental importance;
• Leadership Skills; all corps members had the opportunity to learn and practice participatory leadership and management skills.
• Environmental Enterprise; training for environmentally sound business and career skills. The corps members received training in environmental skills that applied to future careers in teaching, the law, business enterprises, etc. Corps members researched, selected and participated in the development of a variety of environmentally oriented career/business opportunities. Examples of environmental enterprises include;

Integrated Pest Management; services for small farmers located in ex-urban areas.

Pocket jungles; the development and maintenance of mini "jungles" in public buildings, offices, and private homes. Plant species included plants adapted to the climate and humidity available.

Recycling as a business; small scale recycling of glass, aluminum, paper, and plastic, from pick up to finished products.

Eco-parks and awareness programs; The design and construction of environmental education projects for public areas. Activities included the design and construction of ropes courses, nature trails, small animal habitats, and natural recycling systems.

PARTNER'S CORPS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM:

1) Technical Assistance; during the design, management and implementation stages;

2) On going training; for corps staff, through the Corp’s Training Institute;

3) Public Relations; recruitment and public information assistance and access to the conservation corps information network;

4) Management Assistance; generally financial and in-kind support for corps from the private sector, international donors, and other conservation corps.

As Corps developed their ability to manage programs Partner's role lessened.

HISTORY OF CONSERVATION CORPS AND VOLUNTEER WORK CAMPS

U.S. Conservation Corps

In the 1930's the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) became a leading force in the United States to stem the tide of environmental degradation. Results of the CCC's work are visible today as a testament to the development of the environmental conservation movement in the United States. Corps planted millions of trees, many full grown now, built thousands of miles of roads and trails, and carried out hundreds of erosion control projects.

Today, youth conservation corps are widespread throughout the U.S and have an impressive record of accomplishments. Corps have proven to be a successful means to accomplish conservation work, while developing jobs and job skills. U.S. Corps employ young people who work under adult supervision to accomplish projects that benefit the public and the environment.

Cuerpos de Conservación Mexicanos (CCM)

CCM had 9 member corps groups throughout Mexico. Over 450 volunteers from all walks of life volunteered their time working on environmental projects. Every summer CCM coordinated between 6 and 8 summer camps. CCM offered young Mexicans a structured experience through which to learn about their environment, while working to conserve it.

The mandate of CCM was to provide the technical assistance necessary to enable Mexican non-governmental organizations to develop corps. To this end, CCM worked with many local organizations to design and manage conservation corps in Mexico.

International Work Camps

Organized around the world, small groups of people live and work together, volunteering their time to work on specific projects that benefit the local community and the environment.