Save AmeriCorps and Youth Education Programs

Texas Conservation Corps members building new trail in Texas in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Texas Conservation Corps is an AmeriCorps service program of American YouthWorks, a nationally recognized nonprofit and charter high school headquartered in Austin, Texas.

In President Trump’s proposed 2018 budget, he puts important youth programs -- like Americorps and 21st Century Community Learning Centers -- on the chopping block.

The budget cuts are astounding. AmeriCorps gives more than 80,000 young Americans the chance to serve communities struggling with poverty, hunger, and natural disasters. The same program supports opportunities for youth and young veterans to gain critical job skills and help care for our great outdoors by taking on deferred maintenance projects that are overwhelming our parks and public lands. The Department of Education’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which provides before- and after-school programs and summer opportunities for low-income children is also slated for complete elimination.

The list of environmental education programs in jeopardy is long. Often grants and programs are administered through agencies like the EPA, Department of Education, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some of these grants are matched by states or the private sector to make these education programs possible. Sacrificing programs that help kids learn about and explore nature is both shortsighted and irresponsible.

Tell your member of Congress to reject any budget that defunds youth programs.

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Save AmeriCorps and Youth Education Programs

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Please reject any budget that defunds important youth programs like Americorps, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and environmental education programs administered through federal agencies. The value of these programs is much more than the funds invested them. AmeriCorps gives more than 80,000 young Americans the chance to serve communities struggling with poverty, hunger and natural disasters. The same program supports opportunities for youth and young veterans to gain critical job skills and help care for our great outdoors taking on the deferred maintenance projects that are overwhelming our parks and public lands. Twenty-first Century Community Learning Centers provide before- and after-school programs and summer opportunities for children. The program, housed at the Department of Education, targets high poverty schools and provides programming, including outdoor programming, for our most vulnerable children. As the White House proposes slashing the EPA’s budget by 31 percent and eliminating grant opportunities at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, programs that prepare our children and youth to solve very complex environmental challenges are also at risk. Many of these programs are funded by grants matched by states or the private sector, making them a cost-effective way to offer environmental education and STEM-focused programs to children in communities across the country. Today’s youth are spending less time outdoors than any generation in history. Low-cost programs across the federal government help ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and experience they need to solve tomorrow’s most pressing societal and environmental challenges. When it comes time to consider the 2018 budget, please reject any budget that defunds important youth and environmental education programs like these.

Photo licensed under CC 2.0: U.S. Department of Agriculture