My childhood was on a beautiful lake, Gull Lake, in a rural community outside of Kalamazoo, Michigan. I also lived in northern Michigan in the Grand Traverse Bay area, where I attended a fine arts academy and from there lived and worked on a cherry farm on Lake Michigan. I did the rest of my growing up when I moved to Oregon in the late 1970s to settle down and finish my education and start a career in natural resources.

What school did you go to and what did you major in?

I began my college career at Northwestern Michigan Community College in Traverse City, Michigan. I completed my undergraduate degree in fisheries science from Oregon State University (OSU) and I received my juris doctorate and certificate of environmental law from Lewis and Clark College.

What led you to the career you are in now?

My path to a career in natural resources management began in Michigan, thanks to living in rural areas with lots of diverse water bodies, forests and agriculture. I was always outside. I also had a great ecology teacher in high school and in community college. These teachers took students on field trips canoeing through swamps looking for beavers, snowshoeing and tracking deer through northern Michigan winters, and camping on islands in Lake Michigan to study migratory birds, moose and wolves. When I moved to Oregon, while at OSU, I was very fortunate to be recruited by the U.S. Forest Service through a cooperative education program. I worked as a fisheries biologist for the Forest Service on the Oregon coast (Siuslaw National Forest) and on the Mt. Hood National Forest for several years before becoming interested in environmental law. At the same time I enrolled in Lewis and Clark School of Law, I got a job with NOAA Fisheries and have over the last few decades worked on a wide range of issues pertaining to aquatic habitat conservation and listing, and recovery of threatened and endangered species.

What is your connection to the outdoors?

Most of my play throughout my life has been outside. The outdoors refreshes and focuses me and also instills curiosity and wonder. The outdoors has always been a place where my family had precious times camping, hiking, skiing, fishing, and hanging out. Now that I am a grandmother, I am excited to share the wonders of nature through my grandchildren’s eyes. Also, during my career I have strived to learn the science of the outside. Through that quest, I have tried to help implement programs that both conserve healthy ecosystems and also serve the people who depend on those ecosystems for their livelihoods and well-being.

Why did you decide to become a board member with Mt. Adams Institute?

I first learned about MAI through a good friend who is also on the staff. She figured that MAI’s mission would align with my values and she was right! The more I got to know MAI’s dedicated and creative staff and board members, and heard stories from MAI members and students about how MAI affected their lives, the more interested I became. I wanted to be a part of this community and do what I could to serve their mission.

What about the mission of MAI resonates most with you?

The mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world is perfect. I am also deeply inspired by the programs to help veterans and young people work in natural resources fields. Every individual, family, and community that recognizes and explores their unique connection to the natural world, whether for fun, curiosity or livelihood, will contribute to making our world a better place.

As the new Board President for MAI, what are some ideas you have for the upcoming year?

I am looking forward to some strategic thinking and planning with MAI board and staff about MAI’s future. I hope that we reflect on the successful sustainable programs and relationships that MAI has established and from that foundation, we clarify our objectives for evolving.   I also hope we continue to expand our community of partners and sponsors to support educational programs and scholarships. The stories from our members and students about how MAI affected their lives are powerful. I would like us to think about how we can expand our outreach to share these stories more broadly with others.

The post Meet New Board President, Elizabeth Holmes Gaar! appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Funding will support 58 AmeriCorps members who will assist our public lands management agencies address the backlog of unmet needs while launching their own careers in natural resources and public lands management.

Trout Lake, WA– The Mt. Adams Institute has received a $499,000 AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support 58 AmeriCorps members in the successful career development programs: VetsWork Environment, VetsWork GreenCorps and Public Lands Stewards. These members will support the efforts of public lands management agencies in a broad range of roles designed to improve access, use and conservation of our natural resources.

This grant will support AmeriCorps members in eleven states across the country.

AmeriCorps members will tackle the critical challenges faced by our natural resources/public lands management agencies while supporting the Mt. Adams Institute’s mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world. Additionally, the VetsWork programs directly assist veterans seeking a career transition from the military to the civilian work force.

“Our AmeriCorps programs are a fundamental component of our organization. Not only do they help veterans and young adults find purposeful careers in the environment and natural resource management sector, they support our country’s public lands” said Brendan Norman, executive director of the Mt. Adams Institute. “We’re thrilled that the Corporation for National and Community Service has recognized the value that our AmeriCorps members offer to communities. These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs as they develop civic and leadership skills that last a lifetime.”

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS will make $261,151 in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back student loans. After completing 1,700 hours of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award of $5,815.

AmeriCorps operates as a public-private partnership that leverages significant amounts of outside resources to stretch the federal dollar and increase community impact.

This grant will generate an additional $832,500 in local matching support and other outside resources from businesses, foundations, and other organizations.

AmeriCorps engages more than 60,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at more than 21,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Since 1994, more than 1 million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.3 billion in scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student loan debt.

Below is a listing of where Mt. Adams Institute’s AmeriCorps members will serve: Gifford Pinchot National Forest (NF), Mt. Hood NF, Deschutes NF, Wallowa-Whitman NF, Umatilla NF, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Mark Twain NF, Hoosier NF, Shawnee NF, Monongahela NF, Chattahoochee-Oconee NF, George Washington and Jefferson NF, Pisgah NF, Nantahala NF, Sumter NF, Ouachita NF, Willamette Resources and Educational Network, Pacific Northwest Trails Association, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, King Conservation District, and Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

###

Mt. Adams Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research. More information about the organization and its AmeriCorps programs can be found at: www.mtadamsinstitute.org and www.facebook.com/Mt.AdamsInstitute

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov .

To download this press release, click here.

The post Mt. Adams Institute Receives $499,000 National AmeriCorps Grant appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Congress established Wilderness in 1964 to preserve its wilderness character for the benefit of current and future generations. The goal of this training is to build a community of wilderness stewards to help care for these special places. Most participants come to the training with a deep appreciation for Wilderness but are seeking skills and knowledge that will allow them to become better stewards. Participants chose between 5 different modules that provided over two days of skills development and experience. Modules offered at this years training included: Introduction to Wilderness, Advanced Visitor Contacts, Wilderness Monitoring, Wilderness Restoration, and Primitive Field Skills: Wilderness Signs and Interacting with Stock Animals. After the training, participants will use their newly acquired skills to ensure that the remarkable resources and values of Wilderness endure for future generations.

If you are interested in the Wilderness Stewardship Skills Training, registration usually opens in March, so keep an eye out next spring if you would like to attend next year! Also keep an eye on the event Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PNWWilderness/

For more photos from the event, click here.

The post MAI hosts 3rd Annual Region 6 Wilderness Stewardship Skills Training appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

What is the VetsWork AmeriCorps Program?
VetsWork: Environment is a career development program for military Veterans interested in a career in natural resources management.  VetsWork participants engage in an 11 month-long internship at a federal, state or local natural resource organization that blends hands-on experience with specific career development training.  As a result, VetsWork participants increase their employment opportunities while improving public lands and other natural resources.  To learn more, view the VetsWork video.

VetsWork AmeriCorps prioritizes the following environmental areas: Improvement of Public Lands, Environmental Education, Increasing volunteerism (specifically veterans) in public lands management.

What is the Mt. Adams Institute? 
The Mt. Adams Institute’s mission is to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through service learning, education, career development and research.  To meet this mission, we operate: outdoor education and recreation programs for youth (Cascade Mountain School), career development internships for military veterans (VetsWork) and young adults (Public Lands Stewards), facilitate wilderness stewardship projects, and host groups at our 44 bed campus in Trout Lake, Washington on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mt. Adams Ranger District.

What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages more than 75,000 women and men in intensive service each year at more than 15,000 locations including nonprofits, schools and public agencies across the country. AmeriCorps Members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Members gain valuable professional, educational, and life benefits, and the experience has a lasting impact on the Members and the communities they serve. www.nationalservice.gov

Who are MAI Project Partners?
Each year, VetsWork AmeriCorps staff and community select nonprofits and public agencies to be project partners via the Request for Proposal (RFP). Partners are natural resource/public lands management agencies and non-profit organizations with compelling project ideas that address unmet needs. Our partners identify strong supervisors who value mentoring, volunteerism and community service. Supervisors commit to coaching and positively influencing the career path of their VetsWork AmeriCorps Member. Eligible partners will:

• Create a well-defined project with realistic and measurable goals and outcomes
• Provide ongoing mentoring, training, direction and supervision
• Arrange Member workspace, resources and professional development opportunities

How Does MAI Support Our Partners?
MAI prides itself in operating a unique and exemplary program that equally supports the career transition goals of our AmeriCorps members and the unmet needs of our partner agencies and organizations in the natural resources field. Staff will support partners in the following ways:

• Guide supervisors through recruitment, interviewing and selection process
• Manage Member payroll, benefits and programmatic reporting
• Offer flexible invoicing plans
• Coordinate Sponsor Orientation Trainings in preparation for the program and the Supervisor Orientation Day with Members
• Build Member leadership via Community Action Project, Quarterly POD Meetings and focused professional development at Quarterly Trainings
• Retain Members via site visits, evaluations, recognition events and ongoing support
• Resolve conflict using a team focused problem solving approach

Who Are VetsWork AmeriCorps Members? 
VetsWork AmeriCorps staff and project partners collaboratively recruit for a diverse team of U.S. military veterans who bring a wide variety of experiences and interests from their military career and are passionate about transitioning to a career in the natural resources/public lands management arena. AmeriCorps Members commit to an 11-month term of service. AmeriCorps Members serve their sponsor organization while developing a strong, marketable skill set and professional network.

What is the VetsWork Term of Service? 
VetsWork AmeriCorps Members begin their term of service in early February or March and end in mid-December or January, depending on your regional cohort (see attached informational document). Members spend a minimum of 80% of their term with their supervisor and up to 20% of their term developing career oriented skills.

What are the AmeriCorps Member Benefits?
AmeriCorps Members serving full-time (1700 hours over 45 weeks) receive a taxable living allowance of approximately $12,530 ($278.44 weekly) and may be eligible for medical insurance, loan forbearance and child care reimbursement. Members also receive a Segal Education Award of $5,815 that may be used to help cover the costs of education or to repay qualified student loans. Members also receive quarterly professional workshops focused on transitioning their military and VetsWork experience into the civilian workforce.  Members have the opportunity to devote up to 20% of their term of service to learning activities including networking events, workshops, conferences, agency trainings, certifications and self-directed educational opportunities.

The post VetsWork Partner Application Released – Due June 21, 2017 appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Funding will support 58 AmeriCorps members who will assist our public lands management agencies address the backlog of unmet needs while launching their own careers in natural resources and public lands management.

Trout Lake, WA– The Mt. Adams Institute has received a $499,000 AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support 58 AmeriCorps members in the successful career development programs: VetsWork Environment, VetsWork GreenCorps and Public Lands Stewards. These members will support the efforts of public lands management agencies in a broad range of roles designed to improve access, use and conservation of our natural resources.

This grant will support AmeriCorps members in eleven states across the country.

AmeriCorps members will tackle the critical challenges faced by our natural resources/public lands management agencies while supporting the Mt. Adams Institute’s mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world. Additionally, the VetsWork programs directly assist veterans seeking a career transition from the military to the civilian work force.

“Our AmeriCorps programs are a fundamental component of our organization. Not only do they help veterans and young adults find purposeful careers in the environment and natural resource management sector, they support our country’s public lands” said Brendan Norman, executive director of the Mt. Adams Institute. “We’re thrilled that the Corporation for National and Community Service has recognized the value that our AmeriCorps members offer to communities. These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs as they develop civic and leadership skills that last a lifetime.”

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS will make $261,151 in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back student loans. After completing 1,700 hours of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award of $5,815.

AmeriCorps operates as a public-private partnership that leverages significant amounts of outside resources to stretch the federal dollar and increase community impact.

This grant will generate an additional $832,500 in local matching support and other outside resources from businesses, foundations, and other organizations.

AmeriCorps engages more than 60,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at more than 21,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Since 1994, more than 1 million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.3 billion in scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student loan debt.

Below is a listing of where Mt. Adams Institute’s AmeriCorps members will serve: Gifford Pinchot National Forest (NF), Mt. Hood NF, Deschutes NF, Wallowa-Whitman NF, Umatilla NF, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Mark Twain NF, Hoosier NF, Shawnee NF, Monongahela NF, Chattahoochee-Oconee NF, George Washington and Jefferson NF, Pisgah NF, Nantahala NF, Sumter NF, Ouachita NF, Willamette Resources and Educational Network, Pacific Northwest Trails Association, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, King Conservation District, and Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

###

Mt. Adams Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research. More information about the organization and its AmeriCorps programs can be found at: www.mtadamsinstitute.com and www.facebook.com/Mt.AdamsInstitute

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov .

To download this press release, click here.

The post Mt. Adams Institute Receives $499,000 National AmeriCorps Grant appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Mt. Adams Institute continues to grow with the recent hiring of Marijke Riddering Weaver as the Program Coordinator for the VetsWork GreenCorps and Public Lands Stewards Programs.

Marijke brings a wealth of experience to the organization. She has a degree in Natural Resource Management as well as Outdoor Education and Leadership. She spent over 10 years working in the field as a teacher, outdoor instructor, Student Affairs Manager, and wilderness guide across the United states and abroad. Marijke also spent years working as a social worker in Portland supporting runaway and homeless youth.

Marijke will incorporate her love of the natural world and experience supporting people taking on new life challenges into her new position with Mt. Adams Institute. Please help us welcome Marijke to the team!

The post Marijke Riddering Weaver joins the Mt. Adams Institute Staff appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

I am originally from Indiana and have spent the past 5 years living in Georgia. Growing up I played almost every sport that was offered. I graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Political Science and am currently working towards my Master’s Degree in Public Policy. I joined the Navy to be a linguist and spent 5 years working at the National Security Agency in Georgia. I enjoy exploring the outdoors especially through running, mainly mountain and ultra-running. I basically love spending long days in the mountains exploring new places.

I decided to join the VetsWork AmeriCorps program to get my foot in the door in a field that deals with environmental and natural resources issues. It will afford me the opportunity to gain experience in a field that seemed to be difficult to otherwise break into. I will be serving as a Writer Analyst Intern for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. I look forward to getting to understand how the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Forest Service interact in land management issues. And also to see how competing interests are balanced against each other.

The post Meet VetsWork Intern Michael McGraw appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Mt. Adams Institute staff will be doing the snow dance all weekend long — January 31-February 2. Come check out our small town’s response to being cooped up all winter with no snow to enjoy.

For more details, take a look at the Cabin Fever poster 2014

The post Join MAI at the Trout Lake Cabin Fever Festival and Snow Ball appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

What’s missing in the civilian workforce that our military veterans have come to depend upon?

What Vets Miss Most Is What Most Civilians Fear
Business Insider (NY), November 26, 2013
What rescued her was a stint with AmeriCorps, the federal community service organization, which gave her a job that led to full-time employment with a national nonprofit. AmeriCorps offered my friend three crucial things: a new mission, a new purpose, and a strong, supportive social network in which people were actually invested in one another’s well-being and success.

This article from the Business Insider suggests that a significant element missing from the civilian world for transitioning military veterans is the sense of social connection in all aspects of everyday life.  Where once there was a defining team ethic; where every action of an individual impacted the welfare of the entire team, now individualism and independence are the norm.  What we think of as teamwork or collaboration on specific projects seems anti-social next to the intense interconnectedness of a military squad.

This insightful perspective gives a focus for constructing an effective transition from the military culture to the civilian workforce culture. Individual service men and women may seek opportunities for replacing the strong social network or may be unaware of this potential missing link, but as a program designed to support this transition VetsWork intentionally incorporates this attribute within its very structure.  We are an AmeriCorps program with all of the values of team and cohesion inherent in the national service model.  We train as a group from the outset and throughout the year.  We structure Pod meetings to maintain the group dynamic.  We encourage regular connection through social media and technological strategies.  We know how valuable a sense of connectedness is.  If this article accurately represents the experience of our military veterans, then we know it is even more crucial for VetsWork.  Read this article and let us know what you think.  Look at our VetsWork information in this flyer and this brochure and see for yourself how VetsWork can support this career transition.

Visit our website at www.mtadamsinstitute.com for more information.  See our job listings at www.mtadamsinstitute.com/jobs.

The post The Missing Social Network appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Why support MAI? Because we’re making a positive difference in our communities, in the lives of participants and on the environment. Here’s how we’re doing it:

VetsWork is a career development program for military veterans interested in securing employment in the natural resources/public lands management sector. Participants spend 10.5 months in a VetsWork AmeriCorps Internship with agencies like the Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service and National Park Service where they learn new skills, develop professional connections and explore career possibilities. VetsWork is part of the solution that addresses some of the challenges that our military veterans face as they transition back into the civilian world, including the highest unemployment rate of any measured demographic for young men ages 21-25.

Wilderness Stewards support the conservation and preservation of wilderness throughout the Pacific Northwest. Participants spend 17 weeks over the summer educating wilderness visitors, maintaining wilderness trails and monitoring the quality of wilderness. As 2014 is the 50 year anniversary of the Wilderness Act, the work of our Wilderness AmeriCorps Stewards will be even more prominent.

Education Programs inspire and inform people about the natural world. This past year, we worked with local schools to get kids outdoors exploring via boots and boats. We also partnered with Cascade Mountain School to deliver top notch STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for middle school and high school students.

Ready to help these great programs? Donating is easy! Check out our Support Page. You can give online, in person or via mail. We’ll make sure we utilize your support efficiently and effectively.

Thanks!

The post Help Support the Mt. Adams Institute appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Join us this summer on the beautiful Gifford Pinchot National Forest as we “reconstruct the past!” as part of a Passport in Time (PIT) Project.

On September 11, 2012, the historic Peterson Prairie Cabin, constructed in 1926, burned to the ground. The loss of this beautiful and historically significant building was devastating, and has motivated both the Forest Service and the interested, local public to pursue a replacement structure. After a little searching, it was decided that the nearby historic Willard Tool House will be transported to and installed on the Cabin’s former location. The Tool House was originally constructed in 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of a seven-structure complex that formed the Willard Work Center, a former Forest Service ranger station facility. The building is a great example of “Rustic Style” architecture, and will fit the look and feel once exhibited by Peterson Prairie Cabin.

Our project will occur over two phases, the first of which will take place this year. During Phase I, PIT volunteers and Forest staff will prepare the building for transport to the Peterson Cabin site. Preparation will include painting, removal of various fixtures and hardware, installing new flooring, and securing portions of the structure for the move. There can be no true replacement for what the Forest lost in the Peterson Cabin, but with your help, this important piece of history can find a new home and help heal the wound! There is much to see and do here during the hours “off the clock,” and volunteers will also have the opportunity for an informative tour during the presentation of the Wind River Training Center, an NRHP (National Register of Historic Places) structure also constructed by the CCC.

The post Volunteer to Help Replace the Peterson Prairie Guard Station Cabin appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

VetsWork is career development program for military veterans interested in natural resources management/public lands careers.  Beginning in January, 2014, 25 VetsWork participants will be placed into internship positions with community, state and federal organizations.

To learn more about the program, read the VetsWork Brochure

In conjunction with this announcement, Mt. Adams Institute is releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to agencies interested in working with a VetsWork participant.

The post VetsWork Program Receives AmeriCorps Funding! appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

For Immediate Release                                                                                            

June 7, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives honoring the popular Great Depression-era jobs initiative known as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and its alumni on the 80th anniversary of its creation. Representative Grijalva’s resolution also encourages Americans to recognize the contributions and history of the CCC and its participants and supports continuation of the legacy of the CCC and the ideals of national service and community improvement through Youth Corps. Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Rick Nolan (D-MN), and Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) are original cosponsors.

At the peak of the Great Depression, 25 percent of Americans were unemployed. From 1933-1942 over 3 million young men were enrolled in the CCC and received vital job experience and wages for themselves and their families. In addition to improving their own lives, the “CCC Boys” left an incredible legacy. Among their accomplishments they constructed and improved over 800 state and national parks, built nearly 47,000 bridges, and planted nearly 3 billion trees nationwide.

While the program ended soon after many CCC Boys members entered the Armed Forces to serve their country in World War II, a tradition started that is continued by today’s Youth Service and Conservation Corps. Today 127 Corps member organizations now constitute the national “Corps Network” and enroll 27,000 Corpsmembers nationwide, with Corps operating in every state and the District of Columbia.

“We owe a great debt to the Civilian Conservation Corps, and every American should remember how important it’s been to his or her community,” Representative Grijalva said. “The CCC built some of America’s greatest parks, helped clean up our environment, improved public access to the great outdoors on a monumental scale, and engaged millions of youth in conservation, education, and workforce training projects. Americans still benefit each year from the what the Corps did for this country, and today’s Corps Network continues that important legacy.”

Like the Civilian Conservation Corps, The Mt. Adams Institute (MAI) was founded as a non-profit agency in 2011 to benefit youth throughout the Columbia River Gorge and the Pacific Northwest region. It provides young women and men with structured, safe and challenging service and educational opportunities through projects that promote personal growth, the development of social skills, and an ethic of natural resource stewardship. MAI offers programs year-round throughout Washington and Oregon.

“This resolution helps bring attention to the value of the Corps concept past and present,” said Brendan Norman, Executive Director of Mt. Adams Institute. “At a time when people need jobs, Corps play a valuable role in American life by strengthening America through service and conservation. That was the case during the Great Depression, and it’s the case today with Mt. Adams Institute in the Pacific Northwest.”

Mary Ellen Ardouny, President and CEO of The Corps Network, the national association of Youth Service and Conservation Corps, remarked,“We applaud Representative Grijalva for his leadership in honoring the CCC and supporting the Corps of today by introducing this resolution and also by having introduced the Public Lands Service Corps Act earlier this year. Getting more youth outside and developing work skills that benefits them and their country is a win-win. Given our nation’s needs for  insfrastructure, workforce and leadership activities for youth, Corps provide a valuable resource. The CCC showed us this value by helping create the Greatest Generation and some of nation’s most valuable parks and outdoor resources.”

“Representative Grijalva has recognized the immense contributions made to the nation by our CCC Boys. It’s one of the truly great national stories that emphasizes what it means to be an American, overcome the odds,  and achieve success even when economic circumstances are not at their best,” said Joan Sharpe, President of CCC Legacy, the CCC alumni organization. This year to honor the 80^th Anniversary, CCC Legacy will host its annual gathering and reunion in Tucson, Arizona in conjuction with Southwest Conservation Corps. Sharpe explains that it will be another excellent opportunity for some of the CCC Boys to connect with the current generation of Corpsmembers and pass along the wisdom and details of their experiences.

A 1936 poll indicated that the CCC was favored by 82 percent of Americans, making it one of the most popular “New Deal” programs created to help Americans during what was the nation’s worst economic downturn. Last year, a study commissioned by the The National Parks Conservation Association and National Park Hospitality Association found that 86 percent of American voters similarly support expanding the “use of citizen volunteerism and youth conservation corps in the parks.”

A new effort to establish a 21^st Century Conservation Service Corps that reflects the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps has been a key element of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Eight federal agencies established a National Council to help guide the implementation of the program. A partnership of nonprofit partners and Corps programs has also been established to provide guidance on how to best coordinate and channel resources using currently established Corps as a “backbone” for reaching the goal of having 100,000 young people serving annually as part of the the initiative.

About Mt. Adams Institute:

Mt. Adams Insitute strengthens the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research.  In 2014, MAI will launch VetsWork, a career development program for military veterans.  Learn more at www.mtadamsinstitute.com or www.facebook.com/Mt.AdamsInstitute

About The Corps Network:

The Corps Network is the voice of the nation’s 127 Service and Conservation Corps. Currently operating in every state and the District of Columbia, Corps annually enroll more than 27,000 young men and women in service every year. Since its creation in 1985, The Corps Network has provided national leadership and promoted the growth and quality of its member Corps as they provide education, workforce development, and an ethic of stewardship to diverse youth who address important community and conservation needs. Each year Corps mobilize an additional 289,000 community volunteers who work alongside Corpsmembers to generate 638,684 additional hours of service every year, at an estimated value of $14,140,463. For more information visit www.corpsnetwork.org

About CCC Legacy:

The Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy represents the alumni of America and strives to bring awareness to the heritage of the CCC, CCC alumni, their programs and accomplishments. For many years, alumni across America have elevated their heritage though consistently reminding citizens, historians, and natural resource agencies of its great impact on the American culture. Please join the effort to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Learn more atwww.ccclegacy.org

The post Civilian Conservation Corps and Mt. Adams Institute Honored by Congressional Resolution appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

To read a review of last year’s wilderness rangers’ experience, check out this blog post: wilderness season wrap-up

Learn more about the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest Position.

Learn more about the Mt. Hood National Forest Position.

If interested, send your resume to recruitment@mtadamsinstitute.com.  Don’t delay, these will fill up fast!

The post Summer Job: Wilderness Ranger Positions appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

FYS provides summer jobs for Skamania County youth that support the work of natural resources management agencies like the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.  Every year nearly fifty students get selected to be a part of this important program.

Now you can be a part of the program as an adult Crew Leader. FYS is currently accepting applications for positions that run from June 21 to August 23.  Positions pay $15/hour.  If interested, learn more here.  Tell the Program Director, Caleb, that you heard about the opportunity through MAI.

The post Summer Job: Forest Youth Success Crew Leader appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.