Onondaga Earth Corps

Since its inception in 2004, the mission of the OEC continues to be to empower youth to be active participants in creating positive change for their communities and the environment. When the Eli MacDonald Green Team was reinvented in 2005 as the Onondaga Earth Corps (OEC), OEC was formed to:

• Help youth understand the relationship between people and the urban ecosystem
• Engage youth in hands-on community and environmental service learning projects
• Train youth for future jobs and careers in environmental fields, and
• Empower youth by developing their leadership abilities that help them analyze situations, solve problems and implement strategies to improve their communities.

These can be accomplished by bringing youth to the forefront of creating livable, sustainable communities through service, social enterprise and outreach.

The OEC models itself on the highly successful and effective Youth Conservation Corps model that has been in operation throughout the United States since the 1930’s to address critical environmental and human service needs. A 1997 Abt Associates/ Brandeis University random assignment study concluded that Youth Service and Conservation Corps are an invaluable resource for young people. Corps programs lead to positive impacts on participants’ employment and earnings, teach them valuable job readiness and technical skills for the future, and provide needed services for local communities.Please check out available opportunities to work or volunteer with us at: www.onondagaearthcorps.org/jobs