A group of 11 people from the California Conservation Corps (CCC) arrived at Mount Olympus to help a local NGO in fire prevention work in Olympus National Park.
Mount Olympus and the surrounding area are Greece’s most significant and valued national park. It was established in 1938 as the first national park in Greece and declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1981.
The team from CCC, with the support of the US Embassy in Greece, will be collaborating with volunteers from the Greek group Ecogenia and will be active in the field until July 5.
The arrival of the group is part of the “From California to Olympus” program aimed at
sharing expertise between CCC and Ecogenia, and integrating best practices on natural disaster management to enhance local resilience.
Established in 2021, Ecogenia’s goal is to become a national youth corps, where thousands of young Greeks are empowered to contribute to climate action and build a resilient Greek society.
Work of the California Conservation Corps in Olympus
The CCC team will work with the Ecogenia team in the context of the educational exchange, participating in key works for trail maintenance and fuel reduction in the wider area given the fire season.
Overall, the implementation of the program will contribute to building resilience to the climate crisis and will serve as tangible proof of the good cooperation between the US and Greece, as underlined in the Joint Communiqué from the 5th U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue that took place on February 9, 2024.
At the same time, the two parties involved in the program wish to facilitate the exchange of knowledge; build intercultural understanding, support international cooperation, enhance youth leadership skills, and inspire a global network of climate leaders, all of which are commitments and priorities for both Greece and the US.
In addition to sharing expertise with the California Conservation Corps, the “From California to Olympus” project includes a variety of actions such as workshops with national experts and stakeholders, as well as the creation and dissemination of a practical handbook for local government bodies with guidance and tools to enable them to leverage the model of social service to strengthen local resilience, and more specifically around disaster
prevention and recovery.
Partnerships to fight the climate crisis
In an ever-changing period, the fight against the climate crisis is an important opportunity for global strategic partnerships that spur innovation, attract new jobs and investments, and improve the quality of life for civil society, says Ecogenia in a statement released on Thursday.
The organization’s goal is to create a national youth climate corps that enables every young person to complete one year of paid service for the environment, thereby empowering
vulnerable communities.
With pilot action since 2021 in various focus themes and regions of the country, Ecogenia’s projects have engaged 30+ young people, who served 6,500 hours and reached over 1,000 community members.
Ecogenia’s vision is to create a generation of climate-active citizens working together for a sustainable and resilient Greece.
Many people come to visit Greece with a mission in mind – to visit Olympus, the mountain of the ancient Greek gods — and tour the nearby town of Litochoro and the sights nearby.
Mount Olympus is one of the great treasures of Greece. It is famous not only because of Greek mythology but because of its great beauty and the challenging climbs it offers to adventurers.
For untold thousands of years, it has inspired hundreds of stories and myths.
Related: The Hidden Treasures of Olympus, the Mountain of the Greek Gods