Youth Employment
The youth employment program, which earned the Rural Development Initiative 2004 Award of Excellence, is the signature program for ECEC.
Each summer 14-18 year old area youth are offered the opportunity to apply, be interviewed and be hired. From 10-16 students guide tours, cater luncheons, maintain gardens, raise butterflies through the life cycle, propagate and sell native Oregon plants, research ethnobotanical information, run an espresso shop and cafe, learn marketing skills in the gift shop, learn leadership skills and work with mentors.
Students earn a generous wage in addition to earning a semester of credit for their skill development in communication, enterprise, management, leadership and employment skills.
The ECEC season is based on the availability of student employees, so opening day is Memorial Day and closing is Labor Day weekend.
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