By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Teens sent to leadership conference
Youth Environmental Conference
unnamedCAIMLZRK
Central Valley High School seniors Lydia De La Riva and Jacqueline Solis were sent by the American Legion to an environmental conference. In back are Ceres American Legion Post Service Officer David Pratt, Adjutant, and Program Chairperson Walt Butler. - photo by Contributed to the Courier

The Ceres Post of the American Legion sponsored two high school seniors to attend the Youth Environmental Conference this month.

Central Valley High Schools seniors Lydia De La Riva and Jacqueline Solis are attending the conference at the Sly Park Conservation and Environmental Education Center in El Dorado County, which is operated by the Sacramento County Office of Education.

This conference, which has been sponsored by the American Legion for over 30 years, has as its purpose the exposure of the actual business of land management within a national forest. It involves the student in the land-use decision making process by sharpening the student's awareness of the inter-dependence of man and our surroundings. This is a partnership between the American Legion and the US Forest Service.

Subjects presented at the conference include inter-relationship of natural resources (air, water, soil, wildlife, forests and esthetics) found in a Central California High Sierra ecosystem and how they are affected by man's influence, dependence, and actions. Concepts of land management will be introduced and students will be asked to make real decisions both individually and in groups and show the logical development of such decisions. This is mostly a hands-on program but does include lecture time. Participants are both male and female high school students from throughout California.