Press Release  DCR Partners with Lawrence Boys & Girls Club to Launch Stewardship Corps for Middle and High School Students

Lawrence — In an effort to foster the next generation of stewards of our natural resources, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today launched the Stewardship Corps in partnership with the Lawrence Boys & Girls Club. The program gives middle and high school students, ages 13-17, the opportunity to receive hands-on learning from staff about DCR and its initiatives, including the operations of the state parks and trails, as well as the agency’s climate resilience and natural and cultural resource work. The Stewardship Corps is funded by a $20,000 Hearts of STIHL grant program provided by the Stihl Corporation.

"Everyone has a role to play in protecting our environment and mitigating the effects of climate change, and we’re focused on fostering the next generation of stewards,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “It is incredibly rewarding to see the direct impacts we can have on our young people by providing hands-on learning opportunities from our experts at DCR. Making these connections now, will benefit our environment for decades to come.” 

Through the Stewardship Corps, up to 20 students from middle and high schools in Lawrence, Tewksbury, and Methuen will attend after-school sessions at Lawrence Heritage State Park. They will learn about different fields within DCR, including park operations, aquatics, archaeology, cultural resources, engineering, climate resilience, natural resources, and research. The program kicked off Thursday, September 21 and will continue once a week for eight weeks.  Participants will also attend two Saturday field trips, including to Walden Pond State Reservation. The program will culminate in a service project in spring of 2024.   

“We take pride in supporting local communities, state parks and young people, so, we are thrilled that DCR is using Stihl’s award to launch a Stewardship Corps that will help teenagers learn about and appreciate what it means to be a good steward and hopefully spark an interest in conservation and recreation,” said Stihl’s Corporate Communications Manager Roger Phelps. 

“Anytime we can expose young people to new experiences and mentors is a win for us,” said Markus Fischer, Executive Director, of the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence.  “We are always looking for opportunities for our young people to learn and be inspired, and we’re excited to be DCR’s first partner in establishing DCR’s Stewardship Corps.”  

Stihl, Inc. is a leader in the outdoor power equipment industry and is committed to socially responsible environmental stewardship. A strong supporter of America’s State Parks, the company introduced the Hearts of STIHL grant program in 2021, which supports programs that prioritize responsible forest management practices, sustainability, recovery, conservation and environmental education. The mission of the Heats of STIHL is to help people and programs that care for America’s State Parks and preserve them for the enjoyment of current and future generations.  

The DCR Stewardship Corps is part of DCR’s ongoing commitment to workforce development in the conservation and recreation field by exposing young people to the agency’s work. In June, DCR launched its inaugural Conservation and Recreation Leadership Fellowship program in partnership with Salem State University. DCR hosted seven fellows, who are current students at Salem State and have an interest in the conservation and recreation field, and paired them with DCR staff members, who mentored them over 12 weeks. In addition to working with their mentors, the fellows were provided with hands-on learning experiences about various aspects of the agency’s work, including forestry, fire control, cultural resources, park operations, water supply protection, cultural and natural resources, and engineering from staff members across DCR. 

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