Rico Harris joins Friends of the Forest Preserves as the newest member of the Forest Preserve Leadership Corps.
Rico Harris joins Friends of the Forest Preserves as the newest member of the Forest Preserve Leadership Corps.

Youth Sustainability Corps

Posted: May 20th, 2015
Rico Harris removes the bark from a dying ash tree to create a log for a trail in Dan Ryan Woods.

Rico Harris removes the bark from a dying ash tree to create a log for a trail in Dan Ryan Woods.

This past summer was probably the most memorable one I have had since becoming a young adult. During my childhood in the inner city, I wasn’t exposed to many trees or shrubs or plants, except the common weed or grass that grow in your backyard. I never really knew much about trees. The only fact I could tell you was that they help us breath. But this pat summer, I’ve learned about almost every tree that grows in the Cook County and how they all contribute to life in Illinois.

Through Central States SER and Friends of the Forest Preserves’ Youth Sustainability Corps, I was able to participate in a six-week paid internship that worked with inner city youth, taking them out of the environment they considered the “norm” and getting them use to life outdoors.

Over that six weeks, I loved every minute of the time I spent with Friends and I developed a true passion for wildlife and flora. As the internship came to an end, I was given the opportunity to meet with Benjamin Cox, President of Friends of the Forest Preserves, who gave me advice about working in conservation and restoration. Shortly after that, I was back on the job hunt, searching for any opportunity to start working in that particular field. Surprisingly enough, Friends was searching to find somebody with past experience to fill in a position that had recently became open with the Forest Preserve Leadership Corps. Long story short, here I am today, an employee of Friends and enjoying every minute of it!

Henry "Riko" HarrisBy: Henry “Rico” Harris, Forest Preserve Leadership Corps member and former Youth Sustainability Corps member.