Seven years of coastal conservation by youth
Coastal Conservation Youth Corps celebrates seven years of beach stewardship
Once again this summer, keep an eye out for youth volunteers along the Lake Huron shoreline!
The Coastal Conservation Youth Corps (CCYC) program, hosted by the Lake Huron Coastal Centre (LHCC), will be back on Lake Huron, in 2026, for its seventh year.
This year, youth volunteers will take positive action, for Lake Huron, in Kincardine, Goderich, and Grand Bend.
This free program gives youth the opportunity to learn about Lake Huron while taking action on real-world conservation and restoration projects.
Youth gain knowledge and hands-on experience in plastic pollution prevention, dune restoration, coastal monitoring, plant identification, invasive species removal, and much more.
Since the program began in 2020, the Coastal Conservation Youth Corps has had close to 200 youth participants.
Together, these teenagers have donated more than 6,000 hours of their time to protection and restoration along the southeast shoreline of Lake Huron.
With more than half a decade of the program underway, LHCC staff have seen many of these past participants move on to successfully begin their careers in the environmental sector.
Sielo Naranjo-Vargas, a past CCYC participant from the 2023 cohort, is now studying Biology and Environmental Studies at Wilfred Laurier University.
When reflecting on her CCYC experience, Sielo said, "My experience volunteering with CCYC sparked my passion for environmental stewardship, helped shape the direction of my career and gave me skills and experience that I still use in my work today."
Sielo now works as a Waterfront Stewardship Specialist with the Town of Saugeen Shores, where she puts her knowledge, experience, and passion into practice.
Trent McBrien, another past CCYC participant, who has a summer job with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, vouched for the program, saying: “For anyone who is interested in environmental conservation and education, I highly recommend you volunteer, for not just the experience, but the people you will meet.”
CCYC will be held in Kincardine from July 7-9; Grand Bend from July 21-23; and Goderich from July 28-30.
There is no cost, and youth will have the opportunity to earn 18 volunteer hours through the three-day program, while building their résumé, giving back to their communities, and spending time on the Lake Huron coast.
Interested youth can register on the Coastal Conservation Youth Corps web page.