Watershed Restoration Program
ECC makes direct impact to the river but has a focus on something even greater, our city's young people. We provide youth 17-25 with real hands-on workforce development experience. We run AmeriCorps programs and offer service-learning opportunities for partners. Under our programs a young person gets real green infrastructure training that can lead to meaningful careers. They also get soft skill training that gives them tools for their next step in life. Designing and planting a rain garden, leading a group of volunteers in a service project, speaking to a crowd of fifth graders with a bird on your arm, learning how to set goals – these skills build an important foundation for a young person’s future.
DOEE’s Green Zone Environmental Program
Summertime is also a time for growth for our young people. ECC is a partner with DOEE’s GZEP program where we provide real green infrastructure training for young people ages 14-24. Young people design and implement rain gardens for DC properties in need of storm-water management. We are proud to report that our program has received a 90% approval rating from the youth in their evaluations.
Wings Over America
Wings Over America (WOA) is an environmental education/falconry rehabilitation facility on the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Service’s property in Laurel, MD.
For over six years, ECC has been partnering with the Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy Program providing their cadets with hands-on workforce experience. The youth have worked on various projects and in recent years have helped to prepare a 100-year old barn for the initial stages of a long-term renovation. The plan is to turn the barn into an environmental education and raptor rehabilitation center.
The raptor component includes basic care of the birds such as: feeding and keeping the aviaries clean. The cadets learn how to handle the birds and even get an introduction on making falconry equipment. The cadets have also gained valuable workforce experience by working to construct an equestrian pasture ring for the horses and an aviary in the barn for the raptors.
Additionally, once a month WOA offers raptor experiences at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Hundreds of visitors over the course of the year were able to experience these birds of prey at the Research Center’s visitor center or during special programming.
Our Partners
Everyone here is passionate about their work, incredibly smart, and genuinely kind.
After having worked for a major consulting firm, it's so great to have a job where I know what I'm doing is making the world a better place. GlobalGiving is the only company that I’ve seen that actually lives their values and has them as a meaningful part of their day-to-day operations. It’s a breath of fresh air.
Make A Donation
Donating to our Environmental Education Program can help us to reach more children transform their lives for the better. Join your hand with us to reach more youth.
Our Activities
We move the world to protect the one billion animals that live in communities
