Organization: Fishin’ Buddies! Inc.

Lake/River Basin: Lake Michigan

Project Description: Through the Youth Conservation Conference, Chicago-area high school students participated in an intense weeklong conservation “boot camp.” The students gained an understanding of what conservation really is and why it is so important. Through a continuous professional environment, the students learned science techniques, management, teamwork and leadership skills. Facilitators from the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and USDA Forest Service taught the students skills necessary to identify, reclaim and protect precious and limited urban recreational waters, wetlands and parklands. The students that successfully completed the weeklong conference were designated as YCC Ambassadors and received a six-week paid internship with one of the government agencies.

	Lake evaluation. Photo by Bob Lott, Fishin’ Buddies! Inc.
	Watershed seminar. Photo by Fishin’ Buddies! Inc.