Recently, SLVEC Director Chris Canaly joined the Southwest Conservation Corps for a discussion with local youth about environmentalism.
“It was a privilege to spend time with such a young talented group of students from San Luis, Sanford, Antonito, Capulin, Center and Saguache, who are learning about the forest and restoration of trails here in the San Luis Valley. The Southwest Conservation Corps is doing a tremendous job of getting feet on the ground,” expressed Chris.
Cloe Dickson, candidate for master of environmental science at Yale School of the Environment, speaks to her experience as an attendee at the event:
"A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to join members of Southwest Conservation Corps for an educational conversation with SLV Ecosystem Director Chris Canaly. The Southwest Conservation Corps crews have been busy doing important work across the Valley, whether it's building trails, pulling invasive weeds, or cleaning up litter in town. Gathered in Alamosa's Cole Park, the crews (and myself) had the opportunity to learn more from Chris about the places that they are working so hard to protect and restore.
Chris started the conversation by first going around and asking the crew members about themselves and what they are most interested in talking about. The majority of the crew members were from the Valley and many wanted to talk about a diverse range of topics, whether that's renewable energy to clean water to habitat protection to public-private land use planning. With her audience's interests in mind and a map of the San Luis Valley protected resources at hand, Chris eloquently spoke to what makes this place, in all of its unique ecosystems and all of their different inhabitants, so important to conserve.
While she did not gloss over the fact that the high desert alpine is being altered by human-caused climate change, Chris did not dwell in the typical doom and gloom narrative of what will become our new reality. Instead, she spoke optimistically and enthusiastically about the capacity of young people - like the Southwest Conservation Corps crew members - to make a difference in these special places. She spoke of her experiences in organizing and advocacy work, which would eventually inform natural resource and environmental policy, ranging from local to national scales. A few brave crew members shared their own ambitions for what they want to do with their life, including teaching, conducting science experiments, and sharing art with their community. I left Cole Park that day feeling invigorated by the spirit of young people all around the Valley and around the world, and grateful for mentors like Chris that remind them they can change the world."
Thank you Cloe for sharing your experience!
