Two community youth volunteers with the Cook Inletkeeper Youth Program presented on their experiences at the Local Solutions Summer Camp, at which they explored different solutions to climate change to implement in the community to improve the environment, the economy, and make life better for others in the community.
The Cook Inletkeeper local solution mission this year is Project RE-tree, a volunteer-led project to restore and enhance tree cover in our neighborhoods and public places. The need for this project is evident in the countless trees that have fallen victim to spruce beetles. The goal is to plant 5,000 trees in the central peninsula by October 2023.
Council member Jordan Chilson commended these youths on their passion and the work that is being done for the environment in our community.
“When I was growing up I wasn’t at all exposed to environmental issues, it wasn’t something that i learned about until later when I became an adult and today the environment is a very important part of my families lives in making lifestyle choices around that. So I’m excited to see that this i something that this organization is doing and to make available today. One of the things I’ve struggled with in working with this is to see all of these reports coming out on the massively consequential negative impacts we’re seeing to the environment. This is tremendously inspiring. I love that you have the passion to get out there and learn more and try to make positive change. That shows a spark. You are the change tat is going to see this corrected in the future.”
Cook Inletkeeper is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in being part of the solution, you can attend the next community strateTREEgy meeting on Tuesday, January 17th at the Community Action Studio by the Mattress Ranch in Soldotna.