A crew of ten participants were chosen from current high school students 14 to 17 years-old who demonstrated an interest in protecting Virginia’s environment.
Youth Conservation Corp Program. The group will be lead by Crew Leader Michelle Filliater from Smithfield and Crew Leader Lillian Ledford from Standardsville. Crew members include: Kaitlin Duers from Meherrin, Jordan Graham from Covington, Mary Houser from Blairs, Cara Kauffman from Churchville, Megan Kramer from Stuart, Tayler Lewis from Patrick Springs, Samantha Mangum from Charlottesville, Dawn Scott from Washington, Lacy Storms from Max Meadows, and Ashley Wells from Ridgeway.
The Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a challenging developmental program for young adults who want to enhance their work skills while making a positive contribution to their community and instilling a strong stewardship and conservation ethic.
YCC participants assist with an assortment of projects in Virginia State Parks, including wildlife and fisheries habitat improvement, trail and campground construction and restoration, timber and shoreline improvement, and landscape beautification.
The 2009 YCC program will hold 13 different sessions in state parks across Virginia including AmeriCorps and the depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps who built the original six Virginia State Parks.
The Federal Government started their program with the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970, as amended in 1972 and 1974. The law authorized programs in the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to provide summer employment for young men and women, aged 15 through 18 years old, to develop an understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural environment and heritage. In addition to earning money, participants had the opportunity to experience a sense of accomplishments. Several state programs followed after the federal program was established.
For more information about the YCC program contact Gaston Rouse at (703) 583-5497, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
Claytor Lake State Park is located at 6620 Ben H. Bolen Drive, Dublin, VA 24084.
New River Trail State Park is located at 176 Orphanage Drive, Foster Falls, VA 24360.