More than 4,000 Greenwich teenagers have earned their first paycheck planting trees, clearing invasive species and mulching trails in town parks since 1978. First Selectman Fred Camillo made that milestone official on Thursday, July 16, proclaiming the date Greenwich Youth Conservation Program Day.

The proclamation, posted on the town's website, marks the program's 48th consecutive summer putting 14- and 15-year-olds to work maintaining parks and nature preserves across Greenwich.

Demand for the program far outstrips supply. More than 250 teens applied for one of 112 available spaces this summer, according to the Greenwich Sentinel. Participants come from all Greenwich neighborhoods and attend both public and independent schools.

Each teen completes a two-week work session. Mornings are spent on conservation projects. Afternoon sessions cover resume writing, budgeting, decision-making and talks with local conservation experts, according to the Sentinel. Each participant receives a stipend funded by donations from Greenwich families, local businesses and sponsors.

"They learn job skills and teamwork while spending time in nature and making new friends," Program Administrator Christina Nappi told the Sentinel on July 13. "We all enjoy a more beautiful Greenwich because of their hard work."

The GYCP operates as a public-private partnership overseen by the town's Departments of Human Services and Parks and Recreation. Those departments develop the worksites and supervise all conservation work, according to the proclamation.

Two days before the proclamation, on Tuesday, July 14, a crew of 28 GYCP participants planted trees at the Montgomery Pinetum and Greenwich Botanical Center. The Greenwich Board of Selectmen joined them as "honorary teens," working alongside the crew in a show of support, according to the Greenwich Free Press.

The program launched in 1978 as the Youth Conservation Project, a small pilot. It has since grown into one of Greenwich's longest-running youth employment programs. At its 45th anniversary in 2023, Camillo noted the program had planted 100 trees throughout town the prior year alone, according to Patch.

In his proclamation, Camillo urged residents to "salute the Greenwich Youth Conservation Program for all it has done to beautify our Town and provide valuable opportunities to our youth."

Residents who want to learn more about the program or support it can contact Program Administrator Christina Nappi at [email protected] or (203) 622-7792.