Latest News – The Corps Network

Potential Government Shutdown: December 20, 2024

A message from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team

[This message was published at 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 20]

As you are likely aware, the federal government is currently being funded by a Continuing Resolution (CR) that expires at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2024. A vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the CR until March 14, 2025, failed on the evening of Thursday, December 19, 2024. The chances of a federal government shutdown are increasing.

In anticipation of this, linked here are the Office of Management and Budget’s Agency Contingency Plans for a federal government shutdown. You will see that most plans have not been updated since 2023. If there is a federal government shutdown, these plans could be updated. Please check this site for the latest contingency plans. We have linked below to the latest guidance for the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, and AmeriCorps.

Department of the Interior

U.S. Forest Service

AmeriCorps

Update from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team – December 18, 2024

By Danielle Owen

Read this blog from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team about recent updates from Washington and what they mean for the Service and Conservation Corps community.

2024 Federal Election Results

Elections were held throughout the country on November 5, 2024. Former President Donald Trump won a second term as President. Going into the upcoming 119th Congress, the Republican Party will now have the majority of seats in the U.S. Senate. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party maintained its majority, but that majority remains a very slim one.

In the weeks following the election, President-Elect Trump has been announcing his nominees for his cabinet. Most relevant to the Corps world, this includes the following individuals:

EPA Administrator: former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin
Secretary of Commerce: Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick
Secretary of Energy: Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright
Secretary of Interior: North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum
Secretary of Agriculture: Brooke Rollins, President of the America First Policy Institute
Secretary of Labor: Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Secretary of Transportation: former Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy

Congressional Leadership Elections

Since the November federal elections, both parties in the House and the Senate have held their leadership elections to prepare for the upcoming Congress. In the Senate, the current Republican Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will be stepping down from his leadership position in the next Congress. Senator John Thune (R-ND), the current Senate Republican Whip, was elected by the Senate Republicans to serve as their leader and thus the Senate Majority Leader in the upcoming Congress. Also in the Senate, Democrats voted for their leadership for the next Congress. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will continue to lead the soon-to-be minority party for a fifth term. Over on the House side, current Speaker Johnson won a unanimous vote of the House Republicans to lead their party in the upcoming Congress while House Democrats voted again for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to serve as their party leader. Although both House Republicans and Democrats have chosen their current leaders in the chamber, there will be a vote held to elect a new Speaker of the House in the upcoming Congress. While the current Speaker, Mike Johnson (R-LA), is expected to remain in his role there are some in his caucus that might put up a fight against him once the vote for Speaker occurs.

Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations and Disaster Supplemental Funding

The federal government has been funded through several Continuing Resolutions (CR) since October 1, 2024. The current CR expires on December 20, 2024. As for Fiscal Year 2025 funding bills, the House has passed five of the twelve annual funding bills for Fiscal Year 2025, out of their chamber. The Senate has passed none out of their chamber. As a reminder, the current proposed House Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee funding bill, which funds the Department of Labor (DOL) and AmeriCorps, contains an 11% funding cut below its Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level. The House bill, as written, would eliminate funding for AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps NCCC, and the National Service Trust that funds the Education Awards. The bill would also eliminate funding for DOL’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Youth Job Training and includes severe cuts for the Registered Apprenticeships program as well.

On December 17, 2024, the House Republicans released bill language for a new CR that would extend current (Fiscal Year 2024) funding until March 14, 2024. This CR also contains disaster aid funding to, amongst other things, replace the Key Bridge in Baltimore and to help with recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. It also contains the Stronger Workforce for America Act, a bill to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team is still reviewing this portion of the bill text but so far, we know that it includes an update to the definition of “out of school” youth to “opportunity” youth. It would also establish the Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Grant (YARG) program to increase youth participation in new or existing apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs and support high-quality career pathways for in-school and opportunity youth. The proposed CR contains a one-year extension of the Farm Bill. It does not include funding for AmeriCorps that would have been specifically for their work in response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

It is hopeful that both chambers of the U.S. Congress can pass this CR before 12:01 a.m. on December 21, 2024, and the President can sign it into law to avoid a federal government shutdown. There is a possibility that we could see a temporary shutdown if the timing does not go perfectly on passage.

CPAT Impact Story: Stones River National Battlefield Cemetery Restoration

Adapted by Emma Fantuzzo from a report written by Ilana J. Smith, SCA Crew Leader, with approval from the Student Conservation Association.

About the CPA Team:

With support from the National Park Foundation, the Corps Project Assistance (CPA) Team was created in 2022 by The Corps Network to aid the National Park Service (NPS) in scoping and creating cost estimates for facility-related projects at small and medium-size parks across the country. These parks often lack the staff capacity and funding to undertake the work on their own. The projects, which are funded through the Great American Outdoors Act, are meant to be carried out by crews consisting of NPS staff and Service and Conservation Corps members.

The CPA Team has scoped projects across the country, several of which have been completed. Among other locations, the finished work includes historic preservation projects at Camp Nelson National Monument, Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, and Stones River National Battlefield.

Stones River National Battlefield (STRI) Cemetery is one of fourteen National Cemetery sites the National Park Service manages. Partnering with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), the site was cleaned and restored to maintain the sanctity of this historic resting place.

About the Project:

SCA Members at Stones River National Battlefield

SCA members worked with staff from STRI to preserve and renovate the site to be more accessible for future generations. Over the course of two months, the team cleaned approximately 800 headstones of Civil War and World War I and II soldiers. They also made ADA compliance renovations to the walkway for the Hazen Brigade Monument, the oldest Civil War monument still standing in its original battlefield location. In addition, the team was able to assist with smaller maintenance projects, including removing invasive Kudzu and Honeysuckle.

Through the project, the SCA team learned the history of the site and its significance to American History and the liberation of African Americans from slavery. Within the cemetery lay the remains of several members of the United States Colored Troops, Union Army regiments during the Civil War that primarily enlisted African American soldiers. The Stones River battle was instrumental in bringing the Union to victory and the region became a place where persons freed from enslavement settled down. As SCA Crew Leader Ilana Smith noted, there is a sign only 100 yards from the Hazen Brigade Monument acknowledging a post-Civil War freed person community called Cemetery that developed near the battlefield.

Conservation Impact:

The purpose of SCA’s work at STRI was to maintain the NPS lands at the battlefield. The project expanded to include maintenance of the main cemetery, renovation of the monument pathway, and removal of invasive species. Other conservation efforts included the removal of trash from a storm that had taken place a few months prior, and building 60 feet of cedar fencing.

Some of the crew’s accomplishments in numbers include:

Approximately 800 headstones at main cemetery cleaned
Approximately 72 feet of walkway around Hazen Brigade Monument renovated and improved
20 feet of cedar fence built at the parking lot of Fortress Rosencrans
Approximately 40 feet of cedar fence re-built on the west side of Nashville Highway
Approximately 883 invasive plants (Honeysuckle and Kudzu) manually removed
100 pounds of trash removed

Corpsmember Impact:

The SCA crew took several field trips to gain a better understanding of the history and community in the area. This included trips to historic Civil War sites, local farms, and several museums. This helped the crew build an appreciation for the work they were doing and how it affected the people of the community.

Several Corpsmembers took the opportunity to speak with NPS staff about their careers and explore future career opportunities. Three of the members became UTV certified which helped the team to more efficiently complete work. All members gained more skills in construction and maintenance. One Corpsmember noted, “I feel like we are walking away from Stones River with not just professional connections, but with friends and mentors too.”

CPA Team Impact Story: Continuing a Legacy of Service at Carlsbad Caverns National Park

By: Emma Fantuzzo

More than 80 years ago, members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, building infrastructure that is still used by park visitors today. This past summer, a small crew of AmeriCorps members from Conservation Corps New Mexico served at the park and, under the guidance of a master mason, helped restore stone walls built by the CCC. Learn how this project – supported by the Great American Outdoors Act – helped the Carlsbad Caverns maintenance team, and helped inspire a new generation of park professionals.

About the Project:

Conservation Corps New Mexico Dry Masonry Crew

In 2023, The Corps Network’s Corps Project Assistance Team (CPAT) visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park to review maintenance projects where Corps could potentially help. Launched in 2022 with support from the National Park Foundation, the CPAT has traveled to nearly every region of the National Park Service, visiting small and medium-sized parks that often do not have the staff capacity to quickly address maintenance needs. It’s at these smaller parks that Corps can step in and make a particularly big impact. After the CPAT finishes a site visit, they develop a report detailing how and where Corps can support the park’s project needs. Based on these recommendations, the park then engages a Corps to complete the work. To date, parks have used funding from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund to partner with Corps to complete these critical maintenance projects.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located in the hot, arid, Guadalupe Mountains in southeastern New Mexico. Discovered by a teenage explorer in 1898, and later made a national park in 1930, the caverns have inspired generations of environmental stewards. In the late 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) worked in the park to develop trails, facilities, landscaping, and more. This work has allowed almost 500,000 visitors to explore the park annually.

Unfortunately, with limited staff capacity and the availability of stone masons dwindling as many professionals in this field retire, the park faced a maintenance backlog. Some stone masonry projects have been on backlog since 2017. With the help of the CPAT team, Carlsbad Caverns partnered with Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM) to rebuild over 600 feet of historic stone guardrail under the guidance of a retired master stone mason, Bruce Wright. This work proved to be invaluable to the park and provided Corpsmembers with an experience in historic preservation that could help land them positions elsewhere.

Getting to Work:

While CCNM and Carlsbad have collaborated on trail work in the park before, this was the first time the Corps and park partnered on a masonry project. Through the National Park Service’s Experienced Services Program, Bruce Wright was identified to help mentor and oversee the Corpsmembers.

Together, the six-person Crew, including two Crew Leaders, worked with Bruce in 100+ degree heat. Historical stone masonry is hard work. Corpsmembers had to drill out old joints with a grinder; cut and reset stones; learn to mix concrete and work it into tiny crevices, and more. All of this was done primarily using tools similar to what the original builders would have used.

Completed Dry Masonry Wall

The guardrail was originally built over 80 years ago by the CCC. As they fixed the wall, Corpsmembers found mementos, including coins from the 1930s, that the original builders had left for future generations to find. To continue the tradition, the Corpsmembers left some of their own mementos in the new wall. These included little leaves, broken jewelry, and cupcake toppers.

While they worked, Corpsmembers gained a deeper appreciation for their predecessors.

“Bruce let us know that the original builders would not have had pre-mixed concrete…we had power tools,” said Liz…., a Corpsmember from CCNM.

Bruce was a huge help and inspiration for the Corpsmembers. Members mention that his high energy and eighties rock music kept them engaged. He made sure that all the Corpsmembers had the assistance they needed and was patient explaining all the intricacies of his craft.

During the project, the crew faced a few setbacks. The heat necessitated pausing work frequently for breaks to hydrate and cool off. One member had to go home due to illness. At one point, a car crashed into a section of wall that had been restored and the Crew had to rebuild it. Despite this, the Crew completed double the amount of work they originally projected doing.

Impact on Corpsmembers:

CCNM Dry Masonry Corpsmember

The Crew worked long days in high heat with little to no shade. They used a car’s air conditioning to cool off throughout the day. Corpsmember Liz says that the project taught her that she has more strength than she realized. Corpsmembers learned self-sufficiency while maintaining their own tools and looking out for one another. They felt they gained more self-confidence and were proud of the work that they did.

Carlsbad’s Facilities Maintenance Program Manager, Keenan Comer, who was closely involved in the day-to-day work says, “I hope Corpsmembers take away the importance of keeping historic trades alive and the importance of historic preservation.”

After the project, multiple Corpsmembers applied for positions with the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to go into preservation trades.

As one member noted, “the job isn’t troubling, but it creates grit.”

Impact on the Park:

Carlsbad Caverns National Park has more stone masonry work that needs to be done, but as Keenan stated, “[The Corpsmembers] knocked out a huge chunk of work.”

For smaller, remote parks like Carlsbad, where staffing can sometimes be a challenge, having assistance from five to six individuals from a Corps is invaluable. As Keenan expressed, Corpsmembers are young and have energy and open minds. They provide extra hands to complete work, and – on a deeper level – the park service has an opportunity to engage a new generation of prospective resource management professionals. For this particular project, there was the opportunity to train people in the dying field of historic stone masonry, thus helping preserve a historic trade and keep history alive in our parks.

CCNM Dry Masonry Corpsmember

Impact Story: Breyonna Conner, Tabitha Corps Chester

By: Emma Fantuzzo

Breyonna’s Background:

Most people associate Service and Conservation Corps with outdoor work, manual labor, and conservation. Breyonna Conner, a student at Newman University and the first member of her family to not only graduate high school (at the age of fifteen nonetheless), but also attend college – thinks differently. For Breyonna, her Corps experience with Tabitha Corps Chester allowed her to explore her passion for the medical field and gave her valuable hands-on experiences that she believes can be applied to any profession.

Breyonna grew up in Chester, PA. Ever since she was a kid she has been interested in medicine.

“I would always read medical books and watch medical shows…I really wanted to go into the medical field,” she says.

During her second year of college, while studying Biology Pre-Medicine and Spanish, Breyonna learned about Tabitha Corps Chester when the Corps handed out fliers in her neighborhood.

“I decided to join, just to try something new.”

Corps Experience:

Breyonna’s Corps term was her first job experience. While the work focused on green infrastructure, stormwater maintenance, and community clean-ups, Breyonna notes that her biggest take-aways were job readiness, resume writing, teamwork, and workforce development.

Breyonna worked with the Chester Asthma Prevention Program to help clean up neighborhoods that were at high risk for asthma due to illegal dumping and pollution.

“We cleaned up these areas in hopes that asthma rates would go down but to also help our community, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life for local residents.”

Breyonna speaks of the gratitude of the people living in the areas she helped to clean and how touched she was to be able to contribute.

“The happiness that you get from seeing the work that you’ve done make a positive impact in the city is very rewarding,” she said.

Breyonna mentioned a particularly impactful project, “When we first arrived at the clean-up site, there were no kids playing on the playground because there was trash and drugs everywhere. After we cleaned up the playground, for the next two days that we came back, we saw all the kids in the neighborhood playing on the playground.”

As a result of her Corps term, Breyonna was able to apply for an internship and scholarship at one of Tabitha Corps Chester partners, Monroe Energy. The internship was medically focused and allowed Breyonna to work with a nurse practitioner.

She says, “This was a good experience that allowed to me to see if I enjoyed working in the medical field and also helped me figure out what specialty I would like to pursue.”

Breyonna is also currently working on a research study with two Doctors, focusing on neurological diseases. This was also an opportunity that stemmed from participating in Tabitha Corps Chester.

Looking Forward:

In the future, Breyonna dreams of creating her own Corps program with a medical focus. She wants to help students explore the medical field and its many different facets while gaining hands on experience, like she was able to do with Tabitha Corps.

Breyonna plans to attend medical school and would like to become an emergency room physician.

She believes that Corps can help youth step outside their comfort zone.

“Even if you aren’t going into something specifically geared to green infrastructure, the skills that you learn can be applied anywhere, not just to that specific field.”

Impact Story: Creating Tree Cover at the Taos Youth and Family Center

By Hannah Traverse, Director of Communications

The Taos Youth and Family Center is a community recreation facility, offering residents of Taos, NM, access to a pool, skate park, game room, and other gathering spaces. Thanks to assistance from Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC), the outdoor area surrounding the facility now has additional tree cover.

This tree planting project was made possible through the United States Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program, supported by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. RMYC is one of 11 UCF sub-grantees across the country operating under The Corps Network. With locations in Taos and Albuquerque, RMYC is a “stepping stone to new opportunities,” offering youth and young adults the chance to gain work experience through service to the community and environment.

Two young adults wearing hardhats and safety vests kneel on the ground and pack dirt around a newly planted coniferous tree.

Two AmeriCorps members with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Taos, NM, help plant a tree.

During the week of June 26, the RMYC crew began digging holes for four large trees. The final tree was planted on July 3. Four Urban Forestry crew members were involved; they were assisted by RMYC’s Urban Forestry Coordinator and staff from the Town of Taos Parks and Recreation Department. The crew member positions are all supported by AmeriCorps.

The crew members learned how to properly plant trees and learned about the importance of a healthy tree canopy in social spaces. Shade from a healthy, mature tree can lower surface air temperatures by up to 20–45°F in an isolated area. The crew also learned how to work safely in the same space as a backhoe, which will be helpful for future projects. Planting larger trees requires a high level of communication between the crew and the machinery operator – proper safety protocols and training helped make this project a success.

Three young adults wearing hardhats and safety vests hold shovels and a pickaxe while they sit and kneel in front of a coniferous tree they recently planted.

Three AmeriCorps members with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Taos, NM, pose next to a tree they helped plant at the Taos Youth and Family Center.

“Planting these trees in an area that has such little canopy cover is going to make a difference in temperature, visual appeal, and we used trees that would’ve otherwise ended up in a chipper,” said Kate Sorrell, RMYC Urban Forestry and Saw Program Coordinator.

The trees included junipers and spruces, which will do well in Taos’ arid environment. These particular trees were previously used for an event in a local park. The planting project allowed the trees to have a long life instead of being discarded.

“This effort checks all the boxes when it comes to creating an ideal urban project: a group of young adults, outside, in their community, providing a service that would’ve otherwise been put on the back burner. This project, along with many others this crew has done in town, have made such a positive impact in the urban forestry health in Taos by creating more canopy cover. This means more shade and cooler spaces for the whole community,” said Sorrell. “In the process of planting these trees, our crew members had the opportunity to…better understand what their impact can look like as future arborists or tree professionals. They were given the chance to make executive decisions about where the trees can be planted and what would look best. Giving young adults that kind of responsibility over something they can see on their drive to work every day is something they can look back on and admire and say, ‘I did that with my crew’.”

Two young adults wearing hard hats and safety vests pose on either side of a coniferous tree they recently planted. There are mountains and buildings in the background.

Two AmeriCorps members from Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Taos, NM, pose next to a tree they just helped plant at the Taos Youth and Family Center.

AmeriCorps members from Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Taos, NM, pose with their hardhats, featuring stickers from The Corps Network.

#CorpsKudos Video Challenge

WHAT?

The Corps Network is hosting a video contest this August on Instagram and TikTok! This year’s campaign invites Corps programs and Corpsmembers to give a shoutout to individuals who have enhanced their Corps experience and project outcomes.

You can give kudos to Corpsmembers, Corps staff, program partners, crew, community members, and more. #CorpsKudos recipients should be an irreplaceable team member or Corps supporter.

There are cash prizes! You AND the person or organization you give a #CorpsKudos to could be eligible to win (see PRIZE INFO section below).

#CorpsKudos videos can focus on career growth, self-confidence, leadership skills, friendship, exercise, mental health support, camaraderie, and more.

#CorpsKudos Fact Sheet

PRIZE INFO

What are the prizes? (see the “How will the prizes be distributed question below?” for more details).
- 1st place: $1,000
- 2nd place: $500
- 3rd place: $250
Who is eligible to win a prize?
- Member organizations of The Corps Network
- Corpsmember serving in member organizations of The Corps Network
- Staff at member organizations of The Corps Network
How will prizes be delivered?
- We will send the prizes via check or electronic payment to the winning Corps or individual Corpsmember. If a Corps program is selected, we will leave it to your organization to determine how best to use or distribute the prize. Remember, only Corps programs, Corps staff, and Corpsmembers are eligible to win cash prizes.
How will the prizes be distributed?
- Winning Corps and Corpsmembers may wish to split their cash prize with their nominee if the #CorpsKudos recipient is a Corps staff member or a fellow Corpsmember.
  - For example: The 1st place video creator would earn $500, and the remaining $500 would be awarded to their nominee if their nominee is a fellow Corpsmember or part of Corps staff.
- Corps and Corpsmembers who nominate a partner or community member are still eligible to win, but nominated partners and community members are not eligible to win a cash prize.
  - For example: The 1st place video creator would earn $1,000 if their nominee is not a Corpsmember or part of Corps staff.
When will winners be announced?
- We will announce the winners in September after Labor Day through our social media channels and The Crewleader newsletter.
- We’ll also reach out via Instagram and email the Corps and Corpsmembers that posted the winning videos.

FAQs

How many videos can my organization post?
- There is no limit. Member Corps and Corpsmembers can submit as many videos as you’d like.
What if a Corpsmember published a video entry from their personal Instagram account?
- That’s great — we’ll still count their entry — but we encourage Corps to collect and post videos from the Corps’ Instagram account as well.
Who can participate in the contest?
- Member Corps can post videos from their organization’s Instagram and/or TikTok accounts
- Corpsmembers and Corps employees can post videos from their personal Instagram and/or TikTok accounts
What happens if I share a #CorpsKudos to a program partner or community member?
- We encourage Corps to give shoutouts to partners and supporters in this video campaign. Please note that prizes can only be distributed to Corps organizations, Corpsmembers, and staff at Corps.

WHY?

We hope this campaign will generate fun content that demonstrates the various ways Corps benefit the environment, people, and their communities. Our goal is for #CorpsKudos content to showcase positive Corps project outcomes as well as benefits to the young adults serving in Corps.

CRITERIA TO WIN

Meet Basic Requirements:

Videos should be no more than 90 seconds
Save labeled video file in our Google drive folder
Upload on TikTok and/or publish to Instagram and invite the @thecorpsnetwork to be a post collaborator
Tag your Corps, @thecorpsnetwork, and the person you are shouting out
Include #CorpsKudos in your social caption explaining why you are thankful for your kudos recipient

Tell a Story:

How were you positively impacted or inspired by this person? Project outcomes, personal growth, career guidance, etc.
Would this video inspire someone to learn more about Corps and the opportunity to serve in Corps?

Creativity:

Is your video thoughtful and inspiring? Does it clearly tell a story about the person and how they positively influenced your Corps experience?
Bonus points to videos incorporating different high-quality photos, videos, and audio

Quality:

We’ll take note of extra effort the creators put into getting quality footage, editing clips, and making a visually appealing, well-packaged video.

HOW?

Steps to participate:

1. Invite your Corpsmembers to create videos! In 90 seconds or less, each video should feature a kudos to an individual who contributed to your Corps journey.

2. During the month of August, Corps and Corpsmembers should save the videos to our Google folder and share the content on Instagram or TikTok.

- Corps programs: Name your video file with your Corps Organization when uploading video in the Google folder so we know which organization they’re from.
- Corpsmembers: Name your video file with your full name and Corps affiliate and save file in this folder.
- Reach out to ekim@corpsnetwork.org if you’re having trouble with Google Drive. Other file sharing methods work, too – like iCloud or WeTransfer, Dropbox, etc.

Instagram
- Corps programs: Invite @thecorpsnetwork to be a post collaborator. On the screen where you add a caption, choose Tag People >> Invite Collaborator.
- Corpsmembers: Upload your video and tag the @thecorpsnetwork, your Corps organization, and the person you are shouting out.
- Write your caption using #CorpsKudos. Also mention any important descriptive info (like who’s in the video, where they are, who made the video, etc.). See below for a sample caption.
- We will accept all collab requests on a rolling basis! The videos will simultaneously post to our Instagram page and your Instagram page. We will also repost any TikTok entries.

HOW WILL THESE VIDEOS BE USED?

Throughout this video campaign, we will repost the submitted videos across The Corps Network’s social media channels (we will share your caption and add tags/mentions to give credit). The videos will be used to raise awareness on the benefits of Corps service and The Corps Network’s member organizations.

Following the initial campaign, we will do a secondary campaign to repost the submitted videos across The Corps Network’s social media channels (we will share your caption and add tags/ mentions to give credit). We will also create short highlight reels of our favorite clips.

#CorpsKudos Example Social Messaging:

Corps program example caption:

[Corps name] has been invited by @TheCorpsNetwork to give a #CorpsKudos to a Corpsmember that’s been a key part of our projects this season.

We’d like to extend a #CorpsKudos to [Corps Kudos nominee] for [describe their positive impact].

Our #CorpsKudos nominee is eligible to win a cash prize thanks to this video and their generous support for our Corpsmembers and projects. Follow @TheCorpsNetwork for winner announcements and more #CorpsKudos videos from our fellow Member Corps!

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Corpsmember example caption:

I’ve been challenged/nominated/invited by @TheCorpsNetwork to give a #CorpsKudos to someone who positively impacted my service experience with [your Corps name].

My #CorpsKudos goes to my Crew Leader, [Corps Kudos nominee], for motivating me during field projects and keeping our energy up during wildland firefighting trainings.

My #CorpsKudos nominee is eligible to win a cash prize thanks to this video. Follow @TheCorpsNetwork for winner announcements and more #CorpsKudos videos from fellow Corpsmembers!

CONTACT US

Email ekim@corpsnetwork.org with any questions.

Impact Story: New forestry conservation and firefighting trade rekindles Cass Job Corps’ relationship with the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest

Submitted by Alicia Bennett, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Forest Service Job Corps

Enacted in November 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, paved the way for Forest Service Job Corps program to implement trade changes allowing Civilian Conservation Centers (CCC) to expand training and employment opportunities in conservation related careers. These trade changes are completing the shift of realigning the program with its historic conservation mission by ensuring that students at all CCCs can train for a conservation career.

Cass Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Forestry Conservation and Firefighting student Dennis Burgess worked alongside Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specialists to construct a bat cave barricade to protect a bat population on the Ozark St. Francis National Forest. President of the Student Government Association, Burgess is one of the trades biggest boosters and a key recruiter for the trade on-center and throughout the local community. USDA Forest Service photo by Wade Kelly.

Cass Job Corps CCC added Forestry Conservation and Firefighting to its curriculum in August 2023 and the trade addition has recharged the center’s relationship with the nearby Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.

“Outside of fire, Cass did not have a connection with the forest,” said Cass Liaison Specialist Venorris Webb-Delesline. “Having the Forestry Conservation and Firefighting trade has opened doors and allowed Cass to bridge more with the forest. We were asked to participate in the Forests All Employee Day in October. The students have also done work in the community and the trade has been featured in articles in the local newspaper.”

The trade is extremely popular amongst students. With an inaugural class of 17, it is open enrollment and typically takes one year to complete. Webb-Delesline credits much of the success of the Advanced Forestry program to the networking skills and innovations introduced by Instructor Wade Kelly.

“Outside of fire, Cass did not have a connection with the forest,” said Cass Liaison Specialist Venorris Webb-Delesline. “Having the Forestry Conservation and Firefighting has opened doors and allowed Cass to bridge more with the forest. We were asked to participate in the forests All employee Day in October. The students have also done work in the community and the trade has been featured in articles in the local newspaper.”

Webb-Delesline credits much of the trade’s success to the networking skills of Forestry Conservation and Firefighting Instructor Wade Kelly. “He’s such a bright spot in our program,” said Webb-Delesline.

Kelly first encountered Job Corps students when he was working as AmeriCorps NCCC program team lead focused on environmental stewardship, natural disaster services, and urban and rural development. He was looking for a way to use his non-compete eligibility following a stint in The Peace Corps as a Youth Development Worker in the Fiji Islands. Kelly’s passion is working with youth. With years of work experience working in Youth Conservation Corps with the National Park Service, he decided that working at a Forest Service CCC would be a perfect career move. “I’ve been working with at-risk youth for years,” said Kelly. “Now I actually work with youth in my own country to develop their skills.”

As he trains his students, Kelly’s central goal is to kindle a love for conservation and public lands in his trainees. He actively engages with agency specialists to expand the network of professionals who can offer educational and training opportunities for his students. “The Forestry Conservation and Firefighting curriculum is advanced and broad,” said Kelly. “Community engagement and working with the national forest is important because I can reach out and say, ‘Look, I have this workforce that wants to learn and do hands-on work on your project.’ You network and help each other with projects and that way you find the best teachers for the students.”

Networking with National Forests and Grasslands program specialists and other federal land management agencies to provide students the opportunity for hands-on learning is a critical component of ensuring Forestry Conservation and Firefighting students are well-trained with a broad base of knowledge. Students worked alongside Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specialists to construct a bat cave barricade to protect a bat population in the Ozark St. Francis National Forest on May 1, 2024. USDA Forest Service photo by Wade Kelly.

Recently, his students worked alongside Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specialists to construct a bat cave barricade to protect a bat population on the Ozark St. Francis National Forest.

Forestry Conservation and Firefighting Instructor Wade Kelly networks with National Forests and Grasslands program specialists and other federal land management agencies to provide students the opportunity for hands-on learning. It is a critical component of ensuring Forestry Conservation and Firefighting students are well-trained with a broad base of knowledge. Students worked alongside Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specialists to construct a bat cave barricade to protect a bat population on the Ozark St. Francis National Forest on May 1, 2024. USDA Forest Service photo by Wade Kelly.

Kelly’s intent is to build a program that will open additional opportunities for young people who dream of and want to build careers in forestry. Graduates of his program who choose careers with the Forest Service can help advance its new land management strategy prioritizing forest health, watersheds, and priority landscapes.

Cass Job Corps Forestry Conservation and Firefighting students assisted local organizations and businesses with a tornado cleanup in Northwest Arkansas in June 2024, including a transitional home for women with young children. (l-r front row) Students Kayden Fitts and David Harper, Forestry Conservation and Firefighting Instructor Wade Kelly, students Matthew McChristain, Blade Willie, and Kayden Hillman. (l-r back row): Students Ashton Mcminn, Ty Henley, Micheal Wishon, Johnny Watson, Brandon Spencer, Jamimus Ready, and Marley Linger. USDA Forest Service photo by Venorris Webb-Delesline.

“I have learned so much about trees and timber and what the forestry department does for the world and I would like to help,” said student Dennis Burgess, a key recruiter for the trade on-center and throughout the local community.

Forestry Conservation and Firefighting Instructor Wade Kelly emphasizes hands-on learning for his students to ensure his students are well-trained with a broad base of knowledge. Forestry Conservation and Firefighting graduates can continue their training by enrolling in an Advanced Forestry Technician program offered at Oconaluftee and Frenchburg Job Corps CCCs or head straight into the workforce. Students who graduate from the program generally enter the workforce as GS-03/04/05 Forestry technicians and can work in silviculture, timber, or both. USDA Forest Service photo by Wade Kelly.

“My experience with forestry and firefighting has been a fun and challenging one. It also gave me chances to go out on fire assignments; they are hard, but I have gotten to see a bunch of different states and have had the pleasure of working with a bunch of different people in fire and they have taught me so much also. If you want to see different parts of the world and help it in a very meaningful way, I believe this [Forestry Conservation and Firefighting] is the best trade for that.”

Forestry Conservation and Firefighting graduates can continue their training by enrolling in an Advanced Forestry Technician program offered at both Oconaluftee and Frenchburg Job Corps centers or head straight into the workforce. “We expect our first graduate from the program to graduate in early fall, so the trade is still in its infancy,” said Cass Acting Center Director Josh Gade. “But our goal is to create a pipeline of multi-faceted students ready to contribute in whatever capacity they are needed.”

Impact Story: Frenchburg Job Corps Advanced Forestry program propels once homeless student forward

Submitted by Alicia Bennett, Public Affairs Officer, U. S. Forest Service Job Corps

The character of up-and-coming female leaders is shaped by the challenges they overcome. The stories of these women are worth telling and the story of Nancy Perez Ramirez, a 22-year-old graduate of the Frenchburg Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center (CCC) is one of those. Ramirez is typical of the students who enroll in a CCC seeking a hand-up—not a handout. The eldest of four sisters, she was raised in Arizona by immigrant parents. Her father found work where he could—sometimes spending years away from the family—working in the fields, as a landscaper, and finally carving out a career in construction. Neither of her parents spoke English and Ramirez had to quickly learn the language to translate for her parents.

Frenchburg Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Advanced Forestry Conservation graduate Nancy Perez Ramirez works on a prescribed burn on the Sault Sainte Marie Ranger District on the Hiawatha National Forest in April 2024. USDA Forest Service photo by Jessie P. Spencer.

Ramirez initially dreamed of a career as veterinary technician. After earning a scholarship at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, she enrolled in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. She, like many individuals during that dark time, struggled emotionally. Unable to maintain her grades, Ramirez lost her scholarship and dropped out of school due to lack of funds. Ashamed and fearing her parent’s disappointment, she chose to work low-wage jobs while couch surfing with friends. Still, she was unable to cobble together the funds to keep a roof over her head. She found herself homeless and for a few months found shelter in a friend’s car–also homeless–to avoid sleeping on the streets. Realizing her situation was untenable, Ramirez finally returned home to her family.

Ramirez learned about the Job Corps program from her younger sister. Having enjoyed outdoor activities like camping, fishing, and hiking during her childhood, she already had an interest in forestry. She applied to the program on-line and was accepted at Timber Lake Job Corps CCC, nestled on the top of a mountain on the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Ramirez thrived at Timber Lake over the next year. As her forestry studies progressed, she began nurturing a new dream of one day becoming a park ranger. “My, ‘Ah-ha’ moment came last March when I was working on a thinning project in a scenic area on the Mt. Hood,” said Perez. “It was so hot—I was hiking, sweating, and carry a chain saw and thinking, ‘What a wonderful view. I love this so much!’”

After graduating from Timber Lake, Perez enrolled in the advanced forestry conservation program at Frenchburg Job Corps CCC in October 2023. Frenchburg’s working partnership with the Cumberland Ranger District on the Daniel Boone National Forest provided Ramirez with excellent work-based learning opportunities. One project Ramirez particularly enjoyed was assisting Kentucky Fish and Wildlife with the release of approximately 3,500 Rainbow and Black Rock Trout into the Red River Gorge.

Frenchburg Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Advanced Forestry Conservation graduate Nancy Perez Ramirez works on mop-up of a prescribed burn on the Oconee National Forest in George in February 2024. USDA Forest Service photo by Colleen Urffer.

Ramirez also participated in a “Women in Fire Module” on the Oconee National Forest in February 2024, where she learned her way around a Type 6 engine and gained additional experience using drip torches to light ignitions on a prescribed burn. Already armed with her Sawyer A certification and experienced with the pole saw and hand tools, working on a 400-gallon engine provided experience working with a pump. Deploying on this and other fire assignments allowed Ramirez to save $8,000 to help in her transition to living independently off-center.

(l-r) Frenchburg Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Advanced Forestry Instructor Jessie P. Spencer and Advanced Forestry graduate Nancy Perez Ramirez and student Dave Smith the Overlook of Lake Superior on the Hiawatha National Forest on April 16, 2024. Qualified as Firefighter Type 2s, Ramirez and Smith were members of a crew that helped prepare six unit totaling close to 1,000 acres and helped burn 900 acres on the Hiawatha National Forest. USDA Forest Service photo by Jessie P. Spencer using self-timer.

Last October, Ramirez applied for over 30 positions with the Forest Service and other land management agencies across a variety of disciplines. She began receiving responses to her applications in February 2024 and started sifting through offers. Ramirez ultimately accepted a position as GS-04 seasonal forestry technician on the Gila National Forest that provides housing. The job lasts through November 2024. Wanting to remain in Glenwood, New Mexico for at least the next two years and having experience the challenge of navigating the quirks of USAJOBS, the Federal Governments Official Job Site, she has already begun searching for her next career opportunity.

(l-r) Frenchburg Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center wildland fire Crew Boss Craig Pyett observes Advanced Forestry graduate Perez Ramirez cut down a tree during a prescribed burn on the Hiawatha National Forest on April 20, 2024. Qualified as a Firefighter Type 2, Ramirez was a member of a crew that helped prepare six unit totaling close to 1,000 acres and helped burn 900 acres on the on the Sault Sainte Marie Ranger District on Hiawatha National Forest. USDA Forest Service photo by Jessie P. Spencer using self-timer. USDA Forest Service photo by Jessie P. Spencer.

During her years at Timber Lake and Frenchburg Job Corps CCCs, Ramirez watched other Job Corps students drop out of the program. It has taken a certain amount of grit for Ramirez to get where she is today and her advice to other students is to remember their motivation. “Focus on yourself. Don’t get caught up in the drama and get distracted from your purpose. Always if you’re give the opportunity to go out in the field to do something extra, take it,” she said. “Everyone’s experiences and situations are a little different but keep pushing forward and give it your all.

Frenchburg Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Advanced Forestry Conservation graduate Nancy Perez Ramirez cuts down a tree during a prescribed burn on the Hiawatha National Forest on April 20, 2024. Qualified as a Firefighter Type 2, Ramirez was a member of a crew that helped prepare six unit totaling close to 1,000 acres and helped burn 900 acres on the Sault Sainte Marie Ranger District on the Hiawatha National Forest. USDA Forest Service photo by Jessie P. Spencer.

Impact Story: Oconaluftee Job Corps’ Young Advanced Forestry Training Program Yields Results

Submitted by Alicia Bennett, Public Affairs Officer, U. S. Forest Service Job Corps

Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center’s (CCC) most recent graduation in marked a promising milestone for its youthful advanced forestry program. Since assuming leadership of Oconaluftee Job Corps CCC Advance Forestry program in late 2022, Instructor Tavaris Evans has been excelling in training his students for careers in conservation. A total of six graduates have completed the program and all three advanced forestry graduates who walked across the stage in April 2024 interned with and accepted entry level positions with the Forest Service. Four of the six advanced forestry graduates have accepted job offers from Forest Service units while one chose to join the California Conservation Corps. Another recent graduate will be submitting applications to the agency in the near future. The recent three graduates have headed off to states with contrasting forest ecosystems and the story of each graduate is unique.

(l-r) Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Advanced Forestry graduate Ero Moya and Forestry Conservation graduates Alexander “Xander” Mercer and Montel Filmore prepare to walk across the graduate stage during the center’s April 2024 graduation ceremony. USDA Forest Service photo by Randa Holland-Jobe

Ero Moya enrolled after completing the Inland Empire Job Corps’ landscaping trade. As part of the advanced forestry training program, she completed USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory & Analysis plot survey and urban forestry training before accepting a forestry technician position with the Southern Region’s Timber Strike Team.

Dwayne Smith received his certification in urban forestry from Great Onyx Job Corps CCC before enrolling in advanced forestry. He completed multiple wildland fire and camp crew assignments throughout the country, with stops in Oregon, Florida and North Carolina before traveling to the Big Piney Ranger District on the Ozark National Forest to begin his work as a forestry aide.

Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Forestry graduate Montel Filmore works on a tree mitigation on the Hiawatha National Forest . USDA Forest Service photo by Derek Goodwin

Hannah Davis completed Oconaluftee’s forestry conservation and wildland firefighting program before enrolling in Oconaluftee’s advanced forestry program. After an eight-week work-based learning detail with the Eastern Region’s Timber Strike Team she was she was picked up as a permanent member of the team.

Oconaluftee’s forestry program has been just as successful in placing graduates. Alexander, “Xander” Mercer (Xander) earned his Firefighter, Type 2 (FFT2) certification, Wildland Chainsaw, and Off-Road Driving training while enrolled in Forestry Conservation & Wildland Firefighting program. Mercer completed a work-based learning assignment as a timber marker/cruiser on the Reserve Ranger District of the Gila National Forest where his super job performance led to a career position as a forestry technician in timber sales preparation.

Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Advanced Forestry graduates Dwayne Smith and Ero Moya and Forestry Conservation graduate Xander Mercer learn how to conduct forestry plots from the Southern Region Research Station Forest Inventory & Analysis Forester Joshua Kirby. USDA Forest Service photo by James Lawler.

Forestry Conservation and Firefighting graduate Montel Filmore earned his Firefighter Type 2 credential, chainsaw certification, off-road driving training and first Aid/CPR certificates while enrolled. After completing a work-based learning detail on the St. Ignace Ranger District–where he worked in a variety of program areas including timber management, recreation, and trails maintenance–he accepted a career position with the Hiawatha as a forestry technician.

Oconaluftee Job Corps forestry instructors are proud of these graduates They are eager to observe their accomplishments as they pursue careers that directly support the agency’s out-come oriented goal of delivering benefits to the public while sustaining our nation’s forests and grasslands. The public is invited to attend Oconaluftee Job Corps Open house on August 9, 2024, in celebration of Job Corps 60th anniversary.

(l-r) Smokey Bear poses with Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Advanced Forestry Instructor Tavaris Evans, Advanced Forestry Graduate Dwayne Smith, student Shane Rivera, and Advanced Forestry Graduate Ero Moya at the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College and the Southern Region Research Station Forest Inventory & Analysis training event in May 2023. USDA Forest Service photo by James Lawler.