Youth in the Great Outdoors

DOI Youth in the Great Outdoors (YGO) Office

Mission: To provide Department-wide leadership, coordination, direction, and oversight regarding the promotion, use, and expansion of youth programs.

Goals: engage, educate, and employ youth at the Department of the Interior (DOI).

Strategies: Support Bureau’s Strategic Priorities, Facilitate Partnerships, Leverage Resources, and Expand/Enhance Programs

Core Principles: Youth Development & Youth Innovation

YGO Office Roles

Assistant SecretaryPolicy, Management &

Budget Rhea Suh

Lisa YoungDirector of

ServiceTake Pride in

America

Office of Youth in the Great Outdoors

Julie RodriguezDirector

Administrative Officer

Youth Coordinating

Council

Youth Task Force

Jessica WahlYouth Program

Specialist

Eugenie BostromProgram

Coordinator (SCEP Intern)

VacantYouth Program

Analyst

Conservation and

Educational Partnership

s Task Force

Federal InteragencyTask Force

on Volunteeris

m

Valerie SalentineYouth Program

Specialist

Gabe HornerPartnerships

Program Analyst

Nathaniel HawleyDeputy Director

Maria ArnoldYouth Program

Analyst

U.S. FWS YGO Initiative GoalsGoal 1: Employ youth to protect our

communities and restore our environment.Goal 2: Educate youth about our lands,

waters, wildlife, culture and heritage.Goal 3: Engage youth from all backgrounds,

all walks of life.

USFWS YGO Initiative RolesDOI Youth

Coordinating Council/Task

Force (NCTC & Refuges)

Coordination: NCTC &

Refuges

FWSDirectorate

Youth Coordinatio

n Team (YCT)

Regions

HQ Programs: ES, MB,

FHC, PPS, HR, BPP

YGO Committe

e

Connecting People with

Nature (CPWN)

U.S. FWS YGO Initiative PrioritiesIncrease support for the Youth Initiative within FWS .

Demonstrate worth, highlight progress, and increase the resource pool

1. Promote what FWS is doing Agency-wide to support YGO Initiative (Coordination)

2. Improve Communication both Internally and Externally (Coordination)

3. Improve Succession Planning: (Recruit, Retain & Grow) by Equipping Mgrs (Employ)

4. Increase Engagement and hiring of low participating groups to increase Diversity (Engage)

5. Promote use of existing or new nature based curriculum. (Educate)

DOI/U.S. FWS YGO Initiative Accomplishments

U.S. FWS YGO Initiative Accomplishments

Questions & Discussion

Drew BurnettInteragency CoordinationDivision of Education OutreachNational Conservation Training Centerdrew_burnett@fws.gov, 703-358-2606