EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS
1520 FIRST STREET SE, WASHINGTON, DC 20003 www.earthconservationcorps.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: OUR MISSION: TO EMPOWER OUR ENDANGERED YOUTH TO RECLAIM THE ANACOSTIA RIVER, THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LIVES. ECC ENGAGES AT-RISK YOUTH IN SERVICE THROUGH ITS CORPS ON THE RIVER, IN WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONWE WORK TO SAVE WHAT WE LOVE THAT IS OUR CATCH PHRASE WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE ANACOSTIA RIVER AND ITS TRUE. ECC WORKS TO RESTORE THE ANACOSTIA RIVER BUT WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE. IT TAKES THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. IF OUR COMMUNITY DOES NOT LOVE THE RIVER THEY WILL NOT FEEL COMPELLED TO SAVE IT. THROUGH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, STUDENTS GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THE ANACOSTIA RIVERS PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. NOT ONLY DO THEY LEARN ABOUT THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE RIVER, THEY EXPLORE THE RIVERS HISTORY AND DISCOVER HOW, EVEN AS STUDENTS, THEY CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE FUTURE HEALTH OF THE RIVERS INCREDIBLY BIODIVERSE ECOSYSTEM.THE ANACOSTIA RIVER IS A PUBLIC TRUST AND A REMARKABLE ASSET THAT BELONGS TO EVERYONE IN THE WATERSHED. ITS BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY CAN BE MUTUAL. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO HAVE THE STUDENTS REALIZE THE VALUE OF THIS RESOURCE, BUILD THEIR SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AS THEY LEARN ON THE RIVER. RAPTOR EXPERIENCESEARTH CONSERVATION CORPS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO CONNECT WITH THEIR LOCAL ECO-SYSTEM. GETTING CLOSE TO A LIVING OWL OR HAWK IS A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR RAPTOR PROGRAMMING LEARN ABOUT OUR BIRDS OF PREY AND HOW THEY RELY ON A CLEAN RIVER FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.WATER QUALITYANOTHER WAY STUDENTS CAN CONNECT WITH THEIR ECOSYSTEM IS THROUGH CITIZEN SCIENCE. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN WATER QUALITY MONITORING OF THE ANACOSTIA RIVER. STUDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT TURBIDITY, OXYGEN AND PH LEVELS OF OUR WATER BY CONDUCTING SIMPLE TESTING. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS HAS BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS FROM THE OFFICE OF WATER AT THE US EPA AS OUR PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM.RIVER TOURSFLOATING ON THE ANACOSTIA RIVER GIVES PEOPLE A CHANCE TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL ENCOUNTER WITH THE RIVER. ONE TRULY GETS TO SEE A ONE TRULY GETS TO SEE A TALE OF TWO CITIES. THE LOWER ANACOSTIA IS VERY MUCH AN URBAN RIVER. THE LANDSCAPE INCLUDES BUILDINGS, STADIUMS, BUSY BRIDGES, HUSTLE AND BUSTLE. WHEN YOU HEAD UP RIVER EVERYTHING CHANGES. IT GETS QUIET, THE CITY ALMOST DISAPPEARS AND ITS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLACE. YOU START TO SEE AN AMAZING HIDDEN ANACOSTIA THAT YOU CAN ONLY WITNESS ON THE WATER. OSPREY, WOOD DUCKS, TURTLES, AND KINGFISHERS ARE YOUR ONLY NOISE. THROUGH OUR RIVER TOURS, EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROUPS TO COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE THE REAL ANACOSTIA RIVER. FRIDAY NIGHT FISHINGDURING THE SUMMER MONTHS FAMILIES CAN COME DOWN TO THE EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS PUMP HOUSE AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR FREE FISHING CLINICS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS. SQUEALS OF DELIGHT CAN BE HEARD FROM THE STREET AS KIDS REEL IN THEIR FIRST WRIGGLING CATFISH AND FAMILIES GET TO EXPERIENCE THE OUTDOORS TOGETHER.ANACOSTIA RAPTOR WATCHIN TODAYS DAY LEARNING IS NOT ONLY CLASSROOOM AND HANDS-ON, IT CAN ALSO BE VIRTUAL. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS ANACOSTIA RAPTOR WATCH PROGRAM IS OUR LIVE WEB CAMERA STREAM OF TWO ACTIVE RAPTOR NESTS. ONE CAMERA IS ON THE NEST OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, TWO BALD EAGLES AND THE OTHER IS ON AN OSPREY NEST LOCATED ON THE ANACOSTIA RIVER. VIEWERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE CAN OBSERVE THESE AMAZING BIRDS OF PREY 24/7 THROUGH OUR WEB CAMERAS. LIBERTY AND JUSTICE HAVE BEEN NESTING IN THIS AREA SINCE 2005. WATCH THESE AMAZING CREATURES CARE FOR THEIR EGGS AND WITNESS THE MIRACLE OF NEW LIFE AS BABY EAGLETS AND OSPREY CHICKS HATCH.OUTCOMESEARTH CONSERVATION CORPS ENGAGED 130 CHILDREN FROM THE BARRY FARMS COMMUNITY IN SUMMER PROGRAMMING. 640 PEOPLE ENGAGED IN OUR RAPTOR EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS. 745 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN FRIDAY NIGHT FISHING. OUR EAGLE CAMERA RECEIVED MORE THAN 1 MILLION VIEWS DURING THEIR NESTING SEASON.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIPEARTH CONSERVATION CORPS MAKES DIRECT IMPACT TO THE RIVER BUT HAS A FOCUS ON SOMETHING EVEN GREATER, OUR CITIES YOUNG PEOPLE. WE PROVIDE YOUTH 17-25 WITH REAL HANDS-ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE. WE RUN AMERICORPS PROGRAMS AND OFFER SERVICE-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERS. UNDER OUR PROGRAMS A YOUNG PERSON GETS REAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING THAT CAN LEAD TO MEANINGFUL CAREERS. THEY ALSO GET SOFT SKILL TRAINING THAT GIVES THEM TOOLS FOR THEIR NEXT STEP IN LIFE. DESIGNING AND PLANTING A RAIN GARDEN, LEADING A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS IN A SERVICE PROJECT, SPEAKING TO A CROWD OF FIFTH GRADERS WITH A BIRD ON YOUR ARM, LEARNING HOW TO SET GOALS THESE SKILLS BUILD AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR A YOUNG PERSONS FUTURE. AMERICAN FORESTSEARTH CONSERVATION CORPS RECEIVED A GRANT FROM AMERICAN FORESTS TO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM IN WARD 8. OUR TEAM OF YOUTH WORKED WITH THE TEAM AT AMERICAN FORESTS TO CREATE A COMMUNICATION PLAN TO REACH SENIORS AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE FREE TREE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO HOME OWNERS IN THE DISTRICT. OUR CORPS WENT DOOR TO DOOR TO SHARE OUTREACH INFORMATION IN THESE COMMUNITIES.DOEES GREEN ZONE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMSUMMERTIME IS ALSO A TIME FOR GROWTH FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS IS A PARTNER WITH DOEES GZEP PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE REAL GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 14-24. YOUNG PEOPLE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT RAIN GARDENS FOR DC PROPERTIES IN NEED OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT.AMERICORPS/SERVE DCEARTH CONSERVATION CORPS HAD A GRANT WITH SERVE DC WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. DURING OUR 2017/2018 SERVICE YEAR, WE HAD THREE YOUTH SERVE A COMBINED 1200 HOURS OF AMERICORPS NATIONAL SERVICE. SOME OF THEIR PROJECTS INCLUDED; PLANTING FOUR POLLINATOR GARDENS IN PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES, PLANTING 200 NATIVE TREES IN WARDS 6,7 AND 8, CONDUCTING WATER QUALITY MONITORING WITH LOCAL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND PARTICIPATING IN A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM WITH AMERICAN FORESTS TO EDUCATE SENIORS AND RESIDENTS IN WARD 8.WINGS OVER AMERICAWINGS OVER AMERICA (WOA) IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION/FALCONRY AND EQUESTRIAN REHABILITATION FACILITY ON THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH REHABILITATION SERVICES PROPERTY IN LAUREL, MD. FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE CAPITAL GUARDIAN YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY PROGRAM PROVIDING THEIR CADETS WITH HANDS-ON WORKFORCE EXPERIENCE. THE YOUTH HAVE WORKED ON VARIOUS PROJECTS AND IN RECENT YEARS HAVE HELPED TO PREPARE A 100-YEAR OLD BARN FOR THE INITIAL STAGES OF A LONG-TERM RENOVATION. THE PLAN IS TO TURN THE BARN INTO AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND RAPTOR REHABILITATION CENTER. THE WOA CAMPUS ALSO HAS AN EQUESTRIAN RESCUE PROGRAM. RETIRED RACE HORSES THAT ARE IN DANGER OF BEING EUTHANIZED ARE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT WOA. THROUGH THE HEALING WITH HAWKS AND HORSES PROGRAM, YOUTH LEARN BASIC EQUESTRIAN SKILLS THAT INCLUDE: TACKING A HORSE, GROOMING, LEADING A HORSE AND WORKING UP TO WALKING, TROTTING AND CANTERING. THE RAPTOR COMPONENT INCLUDES BASIC CARE OF THE BIRDS SUCH AS: FEEDING AND KEEPING THE AVIARIES CLEAN. THEY LEARN HOW TO HANDLE THE BIRDS AND EVEN GET AN INTRODUCTION ON MAKING FALCONRY EQUIPMENT. THE CADETS HAVE ALSO GAINED VALUABLE WORKFORCE EXPERIENCE BY WORKING TO CONSTRUCT AN EQUESTRIAN PASTURE RING FOR THE HORSES AND AN AVIARY IN THE BARN FOR THE RAPTORS.ADDITIONALLY, ONCE A MONTH WOA OFFERS RAPTOR EXPERIENCES AT THE PATUXENT WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER. HUNDREDS OF VISITORS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THESE BIRDS OF PREY AT THE RESEARCH CENTERS VISITOR CENTER OR DURING SPECIAL PROGRAMMING.OUTCOMESDURING OUR 2017/2018 SERVICE YEAR, WE HAD THREE YOUTH SERVE A COMBINED 1200 HOURS OF AMERICORPS NATIONAL SERVICE OUR CORPS LED 748 VOLUNTEERS IN RIVER RESTORATION SERVICE PROJECTS. SIXTY YOUTH ENGAGED IN OUR SIX-WEEK SUMMER GZEP PROGRAM. FORTY CADETS FROM THE CAPITAL GUARDIAN YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY PARTICIPATED IN SERVICE 1 DAY A WEEK AT WINGS OVER AMERICA FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR TERM AS CADETS. 221 NATIVE TREES WERE PLANTED BY OUR CORPSMEMBERS THROUGH A GRANT WITH USDA FOREST SERVICE.

WATERSHED RESTORATIONEARTH CONSERVATION CORPS WORKS TO HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON MAKING THE ANACOSTIA RIVER CLEANER. WE DO THIS THROUGH A VARIETY OF ON-GOING PROGRAMS. ONE WAY TO MAKE THE WATER CLEANER IS TO GET THE TRASH OUT. THE ANACOSTIA SUFFERS FROM STORMWATER RUN-OFF. THIS MEANS THAT EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE RAIN WATER BRINGS ALL OF THE TRASH FROM THE STREET NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE CHEMICALS AND WASHES THEM DOWN THE STORM DRAINS AND DIRECTLY INTO THE RIVER. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS WORKS WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS IN THE WATERSHED TO MAINTAIN FIVE DIFFERENT TRASH TRAPS ALONG THE RIVER. OUR TEAM REMOVES THE DEBRIS THAT COLLECTS AFTER A RAINFALL.EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS WORKS TO HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON MAKING THE ANACOSTIA RIVER CLEANER. WE DO THIS THROUGH A VARIETY OF ON-GOING PROGRAMS.RIVER TRASH TRAPSONE WAY TO MAKE THE WATER CLEANER IS TO GET THE TRASH OUT. THE ANACOSTIA SUFFERS FROM STORMWATER RUN-OFF. THIS MEANS THAT EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE RAIN WATER BRINGS ALL OF THE TRASH FROM THE STREET NOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE CHEMICALS AND WASHES THEM DOWN THE STORM DRAINS AND DIRECTLY INTO THE RIVER. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS WORKS WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS IN THE WATERSHED TO MAINTAIN FIVE DIFFERENT TRASH TRAPS ALONG THE RIVER. OUR TEAM REMOVES THE TRASH THAT COLLECTS AFTER A RAINFALL. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS REMOVED 2700 LBS OF TRASH FROM THE RIVER. WETLAND RESTORATIONAN ESTIMATED 90% OF THE ANACOSTIAS WETLANDS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. WETLANDS ARE NATURAL FILTERS FOR A RIVER SYSTEM AND VITAL FOR THEIR HEALTH. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A STRETCH OF NATURAL WETLAND IN FRONT OF ONE OF OUR EDUCATION CENTERS. EARTH CONSERVATION CORPS HAS BEEN WORKING TO MAINTAIN WHAT IS THERE AND CONTINUES TO RESTORE THE AREA WITH NATIVE WETLAND PLANTS. IN FY2018, ECC AND A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS PLANTED 200 NEW NATIVE PLANTS IN THE WETLAND AT DIAMOND TEAGUE PARK.

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