Beginning in the Summer of 2024, an exciting partnership flourished between Loysville Youth Development Center (LYDC) and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The goal of this partnership was to involve a small group of students in LYDC’s workforce development program in the Alliance’s PA Seedling Cooperative. This partnership is now in its second year, and fourth iteration of LYDC students, so we thought we’d bring you an update from the Fall 2025 students and unwavering, amazing instructors.

Students putting temporary flags in a field to designate future tree planting spots.

Photo credit: LYDC staff

I sat down with the students and asked them to reflect on the work they had completed and what they had learned since starting work with the Alliance in late summer.

K.W. (initials used for privacy of the students), recalled that his favorite day spent working with the Alliance was the day we spent planting trees. In Fall of 2024, Alliance staff and the first iteration of students proudly planted over 20 shrubs around the school grounds. A few of those trees were in need of replanting with this group. K.W. said, “I planted a redbud, and I also learned about staghorn sumac and Washington hawthorn that day”. This experience was unique to K.W. as, “I have never planted a tree before, and it was time spent bonding with my peers doing something we’ve never done before.”

Z.P. reflected that his favorite day working with Alliance staff was the first, introduction day. The first day introduces students to the concept of watersheds, agricultural impairment of streams in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the work the PA Alliance team completes to address those concerns. Of special importance, the PA SCoop program is introduced. Z.P. stated, “I learned about the difference between native and non-native tree species.” Z.P. has learned a lot about trees in the time we’ve spent working together, “I didn’t know anything about trees before this; now, I can tell you a handful of tree species, their branching pattern, leaf shape, if a leaf is compound or not and many other identifying traits.”

J.P. mentioned that his favorite day was our tree maintenance day, “My favorite day working with the Alliance was clearing weeds and grass from the tree tubes and putting mulch around the tree tubes.” J.P. enjoyed the hands-on nature of this work, and learned “how to support a tree to grow successfully if ever planting trees in the future.”

Student installing a protective tree tube around a sapling.

Photo credit: LYDC staff

I checked in with the dedicated instructor and lead for the workforce development course and he stated, “Loysville partnered with The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay over a year ago to give students hands-on opportunities to understand the importance of how trees and shrubs help protect our region’s waterways.” Not only that, but “The workforce development class was developed to give students experience learning skills that can be transferable into real-world careers; this partnership does an excellent job of exposing the students to careers that students may have overlooked or even knew existed.” This partnership has been invaluable to both Alliance staff and the many stakeholders at Loysville Youth Development Center. Need more proof…? When I asked Z.P. what he will hold onto from his time working with the Alliance, he stated, “The main thing I will take away from this class is showing respect to the community. This class taught me to pay attention not just to the people, but the many things that make up a community, including trees and green spaces.”

Instructor and students stand in a grassy area before installing flags.

Photo credit: LYDC staff

Interested in hearing what skills have been taught through this partnership?:

  • Vegetative growing, creating cuttings of riparian species
  • Stratification and scarification of PA native species
  • Upgrading Loysville Youth Development Centers greenhouse to have reliable automated watering systems
  • Tree planting techniques and sheltering tactics
  • Flagging, the practices of marking where a tree should be planted, at Alliance density rates
  • Concepts surrounding watersheds, resource concerns, agricultural and land use practices, native species, and so much more!

The Alliance looks forward to supporting this partnership into 2026! Be on the lookout for more updates!