Hopewell News & Patriot just this week featured an article about the amazing work the Youth Service Corps is doing at Pocahontas State Park. The article is titled "Blazing the trail" by Sarah Steele Wilson, we hope you enjoy reading this as much as we did!
Photo by K.J. Burnell/Wes Williams (right) supervises as Alex Moore (center) tackles a tough branch at Pocahontas Park.
Excerpt:
CHESTERFIELD — Even in the early morning hours, it was hot at Pocahontas State Park. When most people were just starting their days and turning up their air conditioners, a group of teens from Chesterfield and Colonial Heights were lacing up their work boots, spraying themselves with insect repellent, slathering on sun screen and picking up clippers and saws for a day of work in the woods.
The teenagers were members of the Youth Service Corps, which has been doing trail work at Pocahontas State Park since the program began in 2002. Each year, groups of teens come out for three week work sessions where they participate in park projects.
"I look forward to it. The staff who come with them are great to work with as well," said Caroline Garmon, the Park Ranger who supervises the youth group during their time at Pocahontas, of the yearly influx of young laborers. "They work hard. They work really hard."
Visitors to the Park will have seen, and likely enjoyed, the contributions of work crews past to their experience. One summer, the crew built a wooden walkway on one of the wetter trails to save it from being washed out. Every summer, they trim undergrowth and branches back from the trail corridors and reroute portions of trails to make them more convenient for visitors.
However, the Youth Service Corps isn't just about getting better trails out of the kids. It's also about the kids getting something out of their work.
Read the rest of this fantastic story fromHopewell News & Patriot here.
Learn more about Pocahontas State Park here.
Where is Pocahontas State Park?
In Chesterfield County, about 20 miles from Richmond. It's easily accessible from Interstate 95, Route 288 and Route 360. See below for detailed directions.
Drive Time:Northern Virginia, two hours; Richmond, half an hour; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, two hours; Roanoke, three hours.
Click herefor a Google map. Latitude, 37.373973. Longitude, -77.571782.
Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832-6355; phone, (804) 796-4255; email,pocahontas.
The Youth Service Corps is part of our Youth Corps Programming which includes our overnight program, the Youth Conservation Corps, and the day program where we partner with a Youth Agency like Chesterfield County, Hopewell, and Virginia Beach. Find out more here.