Anyone watching Edmond Mathis work Monday morning probably wouldn't realize that Mathis was furthering his education.

Mathis was at Lake Yosemite, cutting up tree branches and neatly stacking them.

But that physical labor is just a small part of what Mathis, and eight other young men, are doing to learn about running a business.

They're part of the California Green Job Corps, a partnership between nine counties in the Central Valley. Some 140 at-risk young people are learning job skills and becoming part of a well-trained work force for clean technology and the green economy.

Toula Moua, a career educator for the Merced County Office of Education, said the program in Merced County focuses on solar energy.

"We have a program that works with young men from 17 to 21 years old," Moua said. "This gives them job skills and pays them minimum wage while they are learning."

Part of the training the participants go through is doing community service. Helping out at Lake Yosemite fulfilled that part of the drill.

Moua said what the young men are learning now will hopefully help them be an owner of their own business in the solar energy field.

The young men are working with Castle Solar, a local business, learning how to assess sites for solar installation and getting the basics of electrical safety down pat.

"I was told by a friend about this program," Mathis, 18, said. "I wanted to get into this kind of business."

Mitchell Denton, 20, has spent the last four months in classroom training, and he's looking forward to owning his own business someday.

"The (Castle Solar) boss is actually training us to be their competition," Denton laughed.

Moua said there are six parts to the program, including soft skills, civic responsibility, environmental stewardship, community service, work experience and education.

All participants are encouraged to enroll in an accredited education institution or return to school to get a diploma.

The young men have been spending three days a week going to classes. Now they're getting ready to install a solar energy system at a local farm.

Tony Moore, a supervisor for Merced Parks and Recreation, was in charge of the group working Monday at the lake.

"This is a good program," Moore said. "It keeps these guys off the street and helps them keep their nose clean. Someday they might even have a job out here with me."

And bring sunshine, in more ways than one, into their lives.

Reporter Carol Reiter can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or creiter@mercedsun-star.com.