YES! Program Description

The YES! program takes place over nine or ten sessions during the months of June and July. Up to twelve youth ages 14 to19 are selected from applications submitted by mid- May. Transportation from Tucson and Vail is provided to the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

The first sessions include an orientation to the area and an overview of the management issues. Mid-program, students engage in activities such as assessing site conditions, training in facilitation and project planning. During the final session participants carry out a project and evaluate their efforts.

YES! Partners have offered the youth leadership and environmental restoration program for three years.  YES! Partners are:  the BLM Tucson Field Office, Cienega Watershed Partnership, Ironwood Tree Experience, and Empire High School (Vail, Arizona). 

The YES! work has been supported by many others ranging from donors (Freeport-McMoran, Summit Hut, and B&B Cactus) to in-kind assistance provided by volunteer scientists from the YES! Partners, The Nature Conservancy, University of Arizona, the FROG Project, Arizona Game and Fish and BLM resource managers.

Scientists and managers from the BLM and other non-profit organizations are essential to the program providing ecological orientation, landscape assessment, and specific restoration skills.