Green Culture
Job Corps students and staff members are changing the way things are done on center. Whether it is in the classroom or career technical training, during extracurricular activities, or in carrying out daily routines, energy-saving initiatives at each center are reinforcing a more efficient culture on Job Corps campuses throughout the country.
On an average day, a student might learn about fuel-reducing strategies through the use of a simulator during driver's education, experience an alternative energy source in action when walking by the new wind turbine on the way to lunch, or help prepare dinner using fruits and vegetables grown in the center's organic garden.
This new way of living is rooted in a programwide commitment to making center facilities, campus life, and career technical training programs more efficient and more sustainable. In order to better serve students, staff, and surrounding communities, Job Corps set out to improve the way centers operate, and to inspire an environmentally conscious attitude across the country. Centers implemented environmental projects and initiatives that encouraged students and staff to learn more about the importance of environmental responsibility.
Many of these new initiatives have allowed students to get firsthand experience with the latest technology and energy-saving techniques that will help them compete in the changing workplace. For example, construction and renovation projects on center have helped improve Job Corps facilities while giving students additional opportunities for hands-on training. These projects, known as Career Technical Skills Training (CTST) projects, are supplementing the students' experiences with new, efficient job practices.
From solar panel installations and greenhouse construction to plumbing upgrades and lighting improvements, each project was designed to educate students about energy efficiency and the benefits of waste reduction through firsthand experience.
An energy-efficiency mindset on center has led students to take their commitment to the environment beyond the classroom or training area. Numerous centers have green committees run by student and staff leaders who promote efficiency in various aspects of center life. In communities surrounding Job Corps centers, students are building relationships that will extend well beyond their Job Corps experience. Job Corps is finding ways to work with local organizations, colleges, and employers to provide additional opportunities for students and graduates to apply the skills they have learned.
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