The Youth Empowerment Project – Eldon has recently hosted an on-site stream clean up project in the Eldon area.  This project, which was funded with a youth conservation grant of the Rural Schools Partnership, was attended by students in the Mustang Force program.  Mustang Force is a program which is attended by 50 at-risk 4th-6th graders who struggle with grades, attendance, or behavior choices.   Students in the program receive training to students in conservation and preservation of natural resources. 

“This grant has reinforced the  natural resource conservation training the students received this year,” YEPe coordinator Daphney Patridge said.

The student conservation grant also funded native plant landscaping at the Eldon Middle School.  Trees and flowers were planted by Mustang Force students in April.

The Gainesville Youth Empowerment Project, with help from a Rural Schools Partnership youth conservation grant, have begun an aluminum and plastic recycling program at the high school, middle school, and elementary school.  During the summer, the recycling containers have been relocated to places in the community, where they can be used while school is out of session.  The grant funded ten portable and reusable recycling containers (like the one pictured above), which have greatly improved the recycling efforts in the Gainesville community. 

Congratulations to the Gainesville YEP on developing this meaningful contribution to Gainesville!