In 2017, the American Legion in California will continue a long tradition of sending high school students to the Sierra Nevada to spend a weekend learning about public land management during a Youth Environmental Leadership Conference at the Eldorado National Forest. The program includes topics such as forest health, wildland fire, heritage resources, wildlife, ecological restoration, history and recreation.
“Some of our posts have been sponsoring this event for decades,” said longtime Legion Auxiliary member and conference coordinator, Barbara Ross. “This experience has a great impact on the young people who attend. It expands their understanding of the environment and their role in taking care of it. ”
Applications are accepted through local American Legion posts throughout the state, including Lake Arrowhead, Fresno, Santa Clara and West Covina. These
The Youth Environmental Leadership Conference is based at the Sly Park Environmental Education Center, a Sacramento County Office of Education facility which operates under a special use permit in the Eldorado National Forest. The event will be held May 19-22, 2017, with space available for up to 60 students. The educational programming is provided by staff from the

The American Legion was established by Congress in 1919 and is the nation’s largest wartime veteran’s service organization.
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