

U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell (AP Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal, Erik Verduzco)

American Eagle Outfitters pledged $1 million Wednesday to help train and hire young people and veterans to care for public lands.

The donation is part of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell’s effort to raise $20 million from private groups by 2017 to build a “21st Century Conservation Service Corps” that would work and volunteer to maintain public lands.

Jewell has made the effort one of her top priorities, noting in a speech on her vision for the department that young people are increasingly disconnected from the outdoors.