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The Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) inspires and trains the next generation of land stewards by hiring culturally diverse youth living on the US/Mexico borderlands to restore the trans-national watersheds they call home. Youth work with rock, wood, seeds, hands, and hearts to return flowing waters and riverside ecosystems to the arid borderlands.

Youth interns work alongside conservation professionals to make grassroots systemic change in historically overlooked and underserved communities. Simultaneously, youth learn leadership skills and are empowered to develop tiered-leadership roles with increased responsibility, accountability, and empathy. Since beginning in 2012, 150 youth have graduated from BECY.


​Contact us at becy@borderlandsrestoration.org or 520-216-4148 with questions.   

BECY IS GENEROUSLY FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE SUPPORT FROM DONORS, GRANT FUNDING AND KEY PARTNERSHIPS

 Thank you to our current and past funders and partners who make this important program possible. 
47 Ranch, Arevalos Farm, Borderlands Restoration L3C, City of Douglas, Coronado National Forest, Cuenca Los Ojos, Deep Dirt Institute, Douglas High School, Harris Heritage Farm, Home Grown Instruments, Madrean Archipelago Plant Propagation Center, Malpai Borderlands Group, Milagros del Desierto, Patagonia Flower Farm, The Patagonia Museum, Patagonia Public Library, Patagonia Regional Community Fund, Patagonia Union High School, Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, Southwestern Research Station, T4 Ranch, University of Arizona, U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Corridor LLC, Youth Conservation Crew

“The work the BECY group does is impressive and I have seen its positive impacts on the land first hand in Smith Canyon. Borderlands continues to be leaders in watershed and habitat restoration in the region and we are happy and proud that we get to collaborate with them. The youth in the BECY group are outstanding individuals that will rise up as leaders in their communities to tackle a myriad of environmental challenges head on and continue to steward the land long into the future,” said Matthew Jewell, Service Forester with Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.


​Interested in supporting BECY? Donations of all sizes appreciated to support the BECY program!
Video created by Valeria Cabello, BECY Youth Leader
Publication: Weaver, C. (2021). Borderlands Earth Care Youth Institute Restoration Work in the U.S./Mexico Borderlands. Air, Soil and Water Research, 14. 

WHY HERE, WHY NOW?

​Today only 4% of the historic rivers and streams still flow in Arizona. As a result, riparian (riverside) tree roots can no longer access year-round water in one of the three most biodiverse regions in the United States. It's difficult to overstate the importance of riparian habitats, which produce 100 times more plant mass than the surrounding desert. The rich habitat of mesquite, oak, ash, cottonwood, sycamore, and other plant life translates into food, nesting sites, and cover for both native and migration wildlife. 
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By paying culturally diverse youth in the economically depressed region within 50-miles of the US/Mexico border to restore rivers, we can empower the next generation to re-imagine the border’s future. By working on cross-border watersheds with Mexican and American landowners alike, we can heal the perceived divide between our deeply connected countries. By teaching youth how to harvest rainwater, grow plants, and work together – we can rediscover how vibrant a place the border can be.

PROGRAM DETAILS
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BECY provides paid internships for youth, ages 15-18, to learn practical, marketable skills in watershed restoration, ecosystem restoration, and community restoration. Currently there are programs based out of the Douglas and Patagonia communities. Crews are comprised of 10 youth, with two designated as youth leaders. 

​Each crew develops experiences and vocabulary in teamwork, leadership, and empathy, while following a curriculum of habitat restoration in the following structure: Watershed Restoration, Ecosystem Restoration, and Community Restoration. Those interested in applying should be prepared for physically strenuous, but fulfilling activities in some of the most beautiful locations the Arizona/Sonora border has to offer.

PAST ACTIVITIES & PROJECTS


​Watershed Restoration: 
  • Stabilizing eroding waterways with rock
  • Shaping earth to infiltrate rainwater
  • Installing rainwater-harvesting cisterns
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Ecosystem Restoration:
  • Removing invasive plants
  • Planting native flowers and grasses
  • Applying seed to recover native ecosystems

Community Restoration:
  • Support sustainable farmers and ranchers
  • Harvest rainwater in cities and towns
  • Restore wildlife habitat in cities and towns


​YOUTH TESTIMONIALS


"I believe in what Borderlands Restoration Network is doing for small towns in southern Arizona. Youth don't have many job opportunities in high school, and they may not know exactly what career they want to get into. BECY has answered this for me by getting me a job outside of class during the summer and introducing me to so many new people with such interesting, specialized careers."   ​

​    - Jacob Paun, BECY Douglas Intern 2015, Youth Leader 2016, and Facilitator in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

"This summer not only impacted my knowledge of environmental restoration, but changed how I interact with my community. BECY showed me how we can support our environment, and how that is crucial to our livelihoods. After the program I am excited to continue with restoration efforts, which has turned into a passion of mine."

    - Chesed Chap, BECY Patagonia  Intern 2019
Thinking about a career in conservation work?
​Check out our resource guide full of opportunities.
​BECY Case Study on the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative website.
Print friendly version here.

Credit to Dennis Caldwell Design for creation of the Patagonia Public School's Watershed Living Lab program signage.