The Franciscan Earth Corps program is an environmental education program for college students and other young adults. It includes Franciscan ecospirituality and prayer, social justice and peace, environmental community service projects, and nature arts activities and learning. Franciscan Earth Corps groups can be established at Catholic colleges and universities, through Catholic campus ministries and Newman Centers at non-Catholic colleges and universities, and at Catholic parishes. Inspired by the spirits of St. Clare and St. Francis, Patron Saint of Ecology, the Franciscan Earth Corps educates today’s young adult Catholics about the Church’s teachings on caring for God’s Creation and environmental justice.
Franciscan Earth Corps groups develop their own leadership, and meet regularly to help members develop a better understanding of the environment and ecospirituality. The Corps provides activities, service projects, field trips and educational sessons incorporating environmental justice and spirituality, environmental citizenship, environmental conservation skills, and ecology education. Franciscan Earth Corps groups have the option of being affiliated with the Franciscan Youth program of the Secular Franciscan Order for the laity.
The Franciscan Earth Club education sessions include: ecotheology and ethics, Franciscan ecospirituality, ecology / environmental science, environmental justice and peace, environmental citizenship, environmental conservation skills, outdoor recreation skills, leadership and civic participation skills, and nature arts (creative writing and visual / performing arts inspired by nature). Environmental service projects are carried out on public parks or other public lands, around community facilities, and in church-affiliated facilities or properties. They can involve community gardening, testing and assessing environmental conditions, replanting trees and native vegetation, removing invasive plants, mitigating pollution, restoring stream banks and riparian areas, protecting wildlife habitats, and addressing environmental health concerns. Activities and field trips include hiking, backpacking, canoeing, overnight camping and running Franciscan Earth Clubs for youth.
The Franciscan Earth Corps model will be shared with anyone interested in starting up a new group, and the Franciscan Ecology Center will provide curriculum, technical assistance, materials and training. Contact the Franciscan Ecology Center for more information.
