SAFFORD — The Gila Valley has its own group of SEAYLS.
These aren’t the special forces SEALS — Sea, Air and Land — of the U.S. Navy, this is a group of youths who have completed the Gila Watershed Partnership’s Southeastern Arizona Youth Land Stewardship internship.
The five teens spent six weeks learning about the Upper Gila Watershed, and participating in natural resource management and environmental work. They also each completed an independent community project.
“One of them did a pollinator garden up in Clifton, one of them created bat boxes at Discovery Park in Safford, and the rest of them did clean-ups in various areas of the community,” said Kara Barron, science and outreach manager for GWP.
Barron said another internship opportunity will be made to teens from Graham and Greenlee counties next summer, pending sufficient grant funding.
