Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador

CCNL was created in 1992 by the Economic Recovery Commission to increase quality employment, training and career-development opportunities for youth and community partners within the province in the areas of environmental and cultural enhancement. Conservation Corps was incorporated in 1993 as a not-for-profit agency governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and in 1996 it received charitable organization status from Revenue Canada. Since 1993 it has received significant funding from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. CCNL is a provincial community based organization that works to facilitate a strong environmental ethic and create partnerships and capacity in communities across the province to address environmental and cultural issues. Focusing on environmental and cultural projects and resources has allowed CCNL to provide strong employment training as well as a stronger connection for young people to their communities, encouraging youth to be more active in the development and conservation of the local environment and cultural resources. The basis of CCNL programs has been partnerships with community based organizations and focusing its efforts on reaching rural and remote communities. CCNL have used direct employment programs, such as the Internship and Green Team Programs, and general public education and outreach initiatives to educate a wide audience on environmental issues. Since 2002, with the addition of the Climate Change Education Centre (CCEC), thousands of young people in schools and youth organizations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have been made aware of the local impacts of climate change and been encouraged, and supported, to take action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in their daily lives.