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Over the years, the Friends have worked with some great young people during our various programs. One of the great benefits of being involved with these programs is to watch our participants grow and develop into mature, responsible adults who understand the importance of preserving this wonderful park. Below is a highlight of just a few of our various “Success Stories”. There are many more success stories that will be continually added to this page.
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Hello, my name is Enyiekere Enyiema. I am the Outreach Program Assistant of the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park. Before I got to where I am at now,I had to start as an intern working for the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park. Six years ago, I entered the Friends’ program through Summer Youth Employment (SYEP). My first summer working in the park I realized that I enjoyed working in the park, learning about some of the different types of trees, animals and insects in the park. While attending high school I thought of myself as being lucky enough to be in a program like this. I was able to meet new people and work along side some of my peers in trying to improve and beautify the park.
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Three years into the program, I was given the opportunity to come back as a supervisor. I found that coming back in that position would give me a chance to share my experience with some of the future interns, so that they would feel more comfortable knowing that their supervisor shares the same sense of what they are here to accomplish during the program.
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Hello, my name is Julissa Pichardo. I have participated in the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park Year Round Internship Program for the last three years. I started the internship as a sophomore attending Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy MS/HS 141.
The three years I have worked with the Friends of Van Cortlant Park have been full of learning, inspiration, fun, challenges, laughter and much more. It was all these things even when I had to work rain or shine, winter or summer, and shovel many piles of horse manure. As interns, students work in the park or at the compost site to clear them of invasive shrubs,
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restored native plants back into the park, and established new sites to plant in. Aside from our responsibilities to the park we had a responsibility to the community. So to do this we had volunteer days and workshops with younger students and children to teach them about the environment and ways they can help to preserve it.
Now looking back as a graduate of 141, I am astounded by everything I have done completed; academically and personally. The next step forward is College. In the Fall I will be entering Rutgers University as a freshman. Although this is a great opportunity and look forward to it with much excitement I am currently making plans to transfer to my ideal school. This college is the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry ((ESF) located in Syracuse New York. ESF is dedicated to protecting, improving, and preserving the environment. Just as the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park are dedicated to “Protecting and Preserving Van Cortlandt Park for all to enjoy”. So it’s thanks to the Friends that I am so eager to join the ESF learning community.
It is this personal attention and commitment to its activities and interns that has made the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park the amazing organization it is.
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My name is James E. Burgos and I am 16 years old, homeschooled, and in the 11th grade. I have been a part of the Friends of Van Cortlandt for four years and I’ve had a lot of success and fun working in this program. I first got involved with FVCP when I was eleven years old doing the Junior Naturalist program. It was an awesome experience and it opened my eyes to a whole new part of life. I got the chance to explore the environment and learn basic things about City parks that fascinated me. I also met some great friends that continued with the internship and we have since stayed close throughout high school.
During my experience at FVCP I have accomplished things that have helped me prevail to the next level, so much that people are in awe when hearing about my achievements. I’ve worked with children
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teaching them about composting, park and trail maintenance, given speeches to crowds of over 50 people and I’ve traveled to different parks and wildlife exhibits and learned environmental science. At age 14, while working for the Trees For Neighborhood Trees I became one of the youngest tree pruners to receive a certified license in NYC. I've also had the privilege of being a part of the environmental and social events in Van Cortlandt Park such as Halloween Fest, Earth Day and Volunteer Days, which in my opinion are the best events in New York City!
My experiences during my three years as an intern have allowed me to branch out into other areas of interest, many doors which were opened to me due to FVCP. During the past summer I worked for the Bronx Zoo in the Camel Barn giving Camel rides and tending to the retired zoo animals. This fall, I am currently doing a six week training course with the New York Aquarium to certify me as a Docent. This is the next step in obtaining experience as a teacher of environmental and marine science. I will be teaching aquarium guests about the different species of mammals at the aquarium. My plans for the distant future include teaching children and one day starting my own Whale Watching business. I hope to study Marine Biology in college and am working towards applying to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the University of Hawaii in Manoa or Hilo.
Thanks to the Friends of Van Cortlandt and their commitment to young people. They are helping to shape future success!!!!!!!!
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