Bainbridge Parks launches conservation program for neurodiverse teens

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND -- The Bainbridge parks district's Student Conservation Corps (SCoCo) has long given high school-aged students the chance to learn job skills while also contributing to the island's unique landscape of parks. Now this summer, Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks and Recreation has launched a Neurodiverse Student Conservation Corps, making SCoCo's work accessible to teenagers who need a different level of support.

Although neurodiversity is a general term used to refer to the different ways people's brains work, it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder. It can also encompass diagnoses like ADHD and Down Syndrome.

According to SCoCo program manager Morgan Houk, the Neurodiverse SCoCo began with a hypothetical.

"How cool would it be if we created a Student Conservation Corps that created an opportunity for the teams I've been working with to get more one-on-one support?" Houk said. "A crew of 18 teenagers and three adults in the woods...is chaos and hectic and amazing and so fun, but an overwhelming experience for some of these folks to just step right into when they're balancing the social and emotional things that all teenagers are, along with just needing extra time to understand the task."

Cody Ogren, the parks district's adaptive and accessibility coordinator, said that as far as he can tell, the Neurodiverse SCoCo is one of the first programs of its kind.

The parks district adjusted some aspects of SCoCo to keep the experience valuable for neurodiverse participants. For example, participants have been paired with peer mentors, who have prior experience with SCoCo and underwent several hours of training with Ogren.

"[I'm] mostly just being an example, answering questions as they come up," said peer mentor Angeline Hamilton, 17. "Because that's one of the things that was important if you have previous experience in Student Conservation Corps. You kind of know what's up."

But participants' basic job duties are the same as always: maintain Bainbridge parks, mostly by removing invasive plants.

"Some people are apprehensive to give people with a disability tools," said Ogren. "I think it's really cool that we were like, 'No, we're going to teach them how to use it properly.' And if those dangers approach, then we'll address it. But we're not going to go into this assuming that they can't do this."

Corps member Matthew Borrevik, 16, took a break from pulling ivy at Camp Yeomalt to consider his gloved fingers. "I can pull out ivy, Scotch broom, blackberry with my hands," he said, listing the invasive plants that the student corps has removed so far. "I like the touch of the ivy, blackberry, and Scotch broom on my hands."

When choosing sites, parks staff considered not only which parks required work, but also how accessible those parks would be to people with varied needs.

"[We made] sure that the paths were wheelchair accessible, if we had someone coming in that had mobility limitations," Ogren said. "As well as space maybe in the shade, a quiet break space if things get to be overwhelming."

Access to indoor facilities and distance from the road were also important factors, Ogren said. Ultimately, Ogren and Houk settled on Camp Yeomalt, Battle Point Park, and Strawberry Hill Park as sites for the program.

Funding for the Neurodiverse SCoCo came from Washington's Recreation and Conservation Office, and was administered through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Houk said that the program received just under $50,000 in grant funds, which was split between new tools and participant salaries.

Participants signed up for the Neurodiverse SCoCo for a variety of reasons. Many, like 15-year-old Brody Inslee, were intrigued by the physical nature of the work.

"It's doing work with my hands and helping the environment," Brody said.

Other participants had financial motivations.

"Money," grinned Henry Moldijk, 20, when asked why he became interested in the program.

His fellow corps member Phoenix Lin chimed in: "Money. Me too."

Both Moldijk and Lin said that the Neurodiverse ScoCo is their first paying job. But the money isn't necessarily what keeps them coming back each day.

"[I like] being with people again," Lin said.

"And friends," Moldijk added. "It's fun."

Community is a big part of the Neurodiverse SCoCo, said Ogren, noting that he and Houk make sure to switch up the working groups each day to give different people a chance to work together.

That's an appealing feature for people like 17-year-old Grace Bonow, who decided to apply as a Neurodiverse SCoCo peer mentor because she wanted to help other people feel included.

"I know what it feels like to be on the outside, or just to not really be sure of what you're doing," Bonow said. "I just thought that would be a nice change of pace...to work to meet new people in the community."

The program, which began June 25, will run 12 days, with a break for July 4. In addition to performing hands-on conservation work, participants are learning from lunchtime speakers with careers in sustainability, construction, and trail maintenance.

Asked how the program as a whole has been going, Ogren couldn't keep a huge smile off his face.

"Every day, they've come back," he said. "It's been awesome."

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Bainbridge Parks launches conservation program for neurodiverse teens