(Washington, DC) This summer, a DC Parks and Recreation program is cultivating future botanists, environmental scientists and EPA administrators.

Through the Natural Leaders program, District youth are able to experience the hands-on world of environmental studies.

The Natural Leaders program was born out of the demand for summer jobs by children who mastered the objectives of Natural Fun and the Garden Club. This program takes children 12 years and older and offers them volunteer, mentoring and job placement opportunities within environmental fields. The children spend the school year learning environmental principles and peer teaching techniques, job search skills and performing cleanups.

During the summer, the Natural Leaders are employed as junior counselors at DPR’s environmental education camps. The young participants learned tropism (how plants respond to stimuli), plant parenting, composting and pumpkin carving. In addition, summer activities will include field trips, hands-on gardening, environmental education, board games, arts and crafts, swimming, and aquatic education including fishing opportunities and cookouts.

This summer, for the Wild Rice Transplant project, Natural Leaders planted wild rice on the banks of the Anacostia River in order to help purify the water. This project helps them understand how to be environmentally conscious and recognize the delicate balance of nature.

The Lederer Youth Garden and Environmental Education Center is a citywide environmental science resource center designed to provide District youth and visitors with multiple learning experiences about nature, gardening, animals, weather, reporting and forecasting, and the preservation of the environment.