During my first year of VetsWork, I was mostly getting introduced to fieldwork, having been a visitor assistant for the U.S. Forest Service previously. Continue Reading…
I had the honor of being this year’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew leader for the Eleven Point Ranger District on the Mark Twain National Forest. It was one of the best times I have had so far during my internship. Continue Reading…
With this being my second term as an AmeriCorps member in the VetsWork Environment program I had the privilege of being my district’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew leader for a second time this summer. Continue Reading…
One of the challenges we face here at the Forest Service is a dwindling budget. It can make upkeep of recreation sites difficult, but also rewarding after completing a project with the bare minimum of supplies or by finding old supplies that others employees no longer use. The purpose of my position is to help increase capacity through my AmeriCorps service, allowing the Forest Service to complete work that otherwise wouldn’t get done under current budget and staffing. Continue Reading…
It might not be common for folks to want to go into the forest for 8 weeks with a couple of teenagers, but after the summer I spent with the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, I would jump at the chance to do it all over again. I’m excited to tell you a little bit about my “YCC’ers”, and what they did this summer, but first let’s talk about what YCC is and what the program does. Continue Reading…