C.R.E.W. to open youth program in Santa Paula

C.R.E.W. Director Wally McCall has announced that The C.R.E.W. (Concerned Resource & Environmental Workers) is the recipient of a $25,000 grant to start a C.R.E.W. operation in Santa Paula. The C.R.E.W.’s proposal to a Santa Barbara County based foundation was endorsed by the County of Ventura Probation Agency and the Santa Paula SPRYT (Youth Resources) Committee. The foundation has asked to remain anonymous.McCall has already had positive discussions with the U.S. Forest Service and County Parks and Recreation regarding expansion of their program of work to include the Santa Paula area. Meetings have also been held with the City of Santa Paula Mayor’s office as well as the Public Works Department regarding the development of a program of work to start in the spring of 2000. Youth outreach will be coordinated by Lanny Kaufer, who is a Special Education and Science teacher at Santa Paula High School, and supported by the Santa Paula Community Services Department. The C.R.E.W. has also initiated discussions with area ranchers and growers regarding employment projects for C.R.E.W. youth.Founded in 1991, The C.R.E.W. provides paid employment and community service to youth aged 14 to 21, while providing the resources needed to preserve, maintain and improve public and private wild lands and parks.During 1999 The C.R.E.W. provided over 5,000 hours of paid employment to Ventura County youth aged 14 to 21, working primarily on Forest Service and Ventura County trails and parklands. Last year The C.R.E.W. expanded to Santa Barbara, where it refurbished Blue Canyon Trail and cleaned up the Pendola Ranger Station.