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 climate. 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.

Three young adults pose with hard hats in front of the large coniferous tree they planted. The hard hats feature the logo of The Corps Network.

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.

Update from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team – June 30, 2024

By Meghan Shea

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.

 

 

Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations

As Congressional August Recess approaches, below is a review as to the status of appropriations bills in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

House of Representatives

  • The House passed all twelve of its appropriations bills out of the full committee. Currently, only five of these bills have been passed on the House floor. Last week, the House planned to hold floor votes on several funding bills, but ultimately House Republicans decided to hold off on these plans when it became clear that they did not have the votes to approve the measures. The chamber decided to begin their August recess a week early and left Washington, DC, last Thursday morning.
    • The House’s 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 full committee mark can be found here and the bill report can be found The 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.
    • The House’s Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill, which funds the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service, includes funding of $38.5 billion. This is $72 million below the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level and $4.4 billion below the President’s budget request. The bill provides $2.75 billion for the Wildfire Suppression Operations Reserve Fund. The full committee mark can be found here and the bill report can be found here. Section 448 of the bill states the following: “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for the American Climate Corps.” Rep. Neguse (D-CO) introduced an amendment to the House Rules Committee that would have stripped this section from the bill.

Senate

  • The Senate has begun marking up their twelve annual funding bills in the full Appropriations Committee. Their subcommittee allocations were set higher than those made by the House. They set a 3.4% increase (nearly $30 billion) for defense programs and a 2.7% increase (around $20 billion) for non-defense programs. In comparison, the House Appropriations Committee cut non-defense programs by 6-7 % (11% in the Labor, Health and Human Services bill) and followed the 1% increase for defense programs as set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
    • The Senate’s Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill, includes language that waives the 25% Public Lands Corps Act cost share. The bill text can be found here and the bill report can be found here.

When both chambers return to D.C. in September, they will need to begin work on a Continuing Resolution to keep the federal government funded beyond the end of the fiscal year on September 30. They will then go into recess for the month of October and return after the November elections to finish Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations. Whether there will be an omnibus bill or a possible Continuing Resolution that sees us into January of 2025 will likely depend on the outcome of the November elections.

 

American Climate Corps

In June, several virtual swearing-in ceremonies for American Climate Corps members were held. The first one was held on June 18. TCN understands that more than 110 attendees registered but it is believed that more participated. Senator Ed Markey was the special guest at the first event, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was the special guest at the second event, and AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith was the special guest at the third event. Later in June, the Biden Administration began requesting information to highlight projects being done by ACC participants. TCN circulated a form for Corps to share information about their ACC projects. AmeriCorps along with STEM Next has hired one ACC staffer and is in the process of hiring two additional roles: Strategic Advisor for Partnership Coordination, and Strategic Advisor for Workforce Development.

 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

In April, the House voted to pass “A Stronger Workforce for America” Act by a vote of 379-26. This bill is meant to modernize WIOA, which was originally authorized in 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Earlier this month, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a full committee hearing on WIOA to give more information on the bill to the public and allow Senators to share some of their priorities for this legislation. Last Friday, the Senate released a discussion draft of their WIOA bill linked here. A section by section breakdown of the bill can be found here. Some the key changes in the Senate discussion draft include:

● Renaming the term out-of-school youth (OSY) with “Opportunity Youth” and incorporating youth experiencing homelessness, foster care youth, and justice involved youth as opportunity youth (ages 16-24)
● Maintaining the current 75/25 opportunity youth/in-school youth funding ratio
● Requiring that 10% of youth formula funding go towards youth apprenticeships
● Streamlining the determination of homeless or foster youth status to match the process described in section 479D of the Higher Education Act
● Creation of the Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Grant – a competitive grant to develop new or expand existing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeships that serve youth age 16-24

It is still unclear when this bill will go to the Senate floor. TCN submitted feedback on the discussion draft to committee staff and to offices of members of the Senate HELP Committee. The Committee hopes to markup the bill by August.

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 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.

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.”

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.

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.

Impact Story: Brandon Roberts – Melding Art and Conservation

By Emma Fantuzzo

Brandon’s Background:

Brandon Roberts – a former optician and bartender who now works as an artist and a member of Louisiana Conservation Corps (LaCC) – describes himself as “Organized Chaos.”

Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Brandon worked as an optician for a decade before deciding it was time for a career change. Like many healthcare professionals, Brandon felt burnt out at the end of the pandemic and wanted to reconnect with his roots,

“I always knew I was a nature lover,” he said.

While he received pushback from friends and family over his career change, Brandon felt inspired by nature and wanted to do something that made a difference.

The following two years would be a catalyst for Brandon’s future as he began bartending in Jacksonville, FL and gained a small audience for his passion: creating art.

“[The bar] had 20-foot exposed brick walls and I just saw an opportunity to fill it with something. So, the general manager, who was very supportive of my artwork, was like, you know, you really should start displaying here.”

Brandon says his art has been described as, “post-apocalyptic, nature takes over.” He incorporates manmade items he finds in nature with pieces of nature, hoping to convey the spirit of the place he found the items, as well as the importance of conservation and stewardship.

With nature as his muse, Brandon’s art truly took off when he joined LaCC.

 

 

Corps Experience:

Brandon came across a job posting for LaCC three days before they closed their application for the season. Though he did not have field experience, he says that he had gained a deep respect for nature through his art creations and wanted a way to give back.

LaCC ended up being not only a great fit, but a way for Brandon to expand his artwork and be inspired to create new pieces.

Looking back on his Corps experience, Brandon says that one of his favorite projects was laying gravel for a trail that allowed people with limited mobility to access nature.

“Seeing people come birding, and watching the trail fill up, was really rewarding,” he said.

He remembers one night in Grande Isle when he was the only person out on the beach at night.

“I walked out because it was a meteor shower and I saw 200 shooting stars within an hour and there was no one for miles either direction.”

Brandon says that at times like these, he takes a snapshot in his mind to try and recreate it later.

The wetlands of Louisiana are a huge inspiration for Brandon’s creations. His fellow Corpsmembers like to help out by bringing him objects they find while working that they think Brandon could use in his art or might like. They find his art fascinating.

Brandon has had several pieces on display at the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge that were inspired by his time with the Corps.

“I’m thinking of the Shaw centerpiece that I had made because [the Corpsmembers] just saw it as a clump of netting and trap that then all of a sudden looks like a mermaid’s treasure.”

 

 

 

Looking Forward:

Brandon’s time with LaCC is coming to an end.

Going forward, he plans to continue to grow his art business while also maintaining a job, even if just part-time, to connect with others. He plans to work for a native landscaping company called Let It Be, a company he worked with during his service term.

Brandon’s Shaw Center art pieces tell the story of his experience with LaCC and how it influenced his art. The pieces are going to continue being exhibited at another location in a new city for three to six months. He also has a solo exhibition in September called “Swamp Witch” it will run the whole month at Blue bonnets Swamp Nature Center in Baton Rouge.

“[Corps] really build strength physically as well as mentally. You learn how to how to adjust to obstacles,” said Brandon. “There’s people all over the country and all over the world doing what we’re doing, and all these little bits and efforts are collectively making that difference that we want.”

Update from The Corps Network’s Government Relations Team – May 6, 2024

By Meghan Shea

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.

 

 

Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations

By the end of March 2024, President Biden signed all twelve Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills into law with the first package of bills being signed into law on March 8 and the second on March 23. The first package included the Agriculture; Energy-Water; Military Construction – Veterans Affairs; Transportation-HUD; Interior – Environment; and Commerce, Justice, Science bills. The second package of six appropriations bills included the Labor, Health, and Human Services bill that funds AmeriCorps and the Department of Labor. Below are some highlights for Fiscal Year 2024 funding.

AmeriCorps

  • AmeriCorps State and National: For Fiscal Year 2024, AmeriCorps State and National will receive $557.094 million. This is flat funding from the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.
  • National Service Trust: For Fiscal Year 2024 the National Service Trust will receive $180,000,000, a reduction of $50,000,000 from the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.

Department of the Interior

  • For Fiscal Year 2024, the Department of the Interior overall will receive $14.7 billion, $398 million below the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.
    • National Park Service (NPS): For Fiscal Year 2024, NPS will receive $3.3 billion, $150 million below the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.
    • Bureau of Land Management (BLM): For Fiscal Year 2024, BLM will receive $1.4 billion, $81 million below the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.
    • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA): For Fiscal Year 2024, BIA will receive $2.46 billion, $15.62 million above the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.
    • S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): For Fiscal Year 2024, USFWS will receive $1.7 billion, $51 million below the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.

Department of Labor

  • All the accounts listed below were funded at the same level they were in Fiscal Year 2023.
    • Apprenticeships: For Fiscal Year 2024, the enacted level is $285 million.
    • Job Corps: For Fiscal Year 2024, the enacted level is $1.76 billion.
    • Reentry Employment Opportunities: For Fiscal Year 2024, the enacted level is $115 million.
    • YouthBuild: For Fiscal Year 2024, the enacted level is $105 million.
    • WIOA Youth Activities: For Fiscal Year 2024, the enacted level is $948.13 million.

U.S. Forest Service

  • For Fiscal Year 2024, the U.S. Forest Service will receive $3.8 billion in non-fire funding. This is $157 million below the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted level.

 

Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations

On Monday March 11, 2024, President Biden released his Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request. This budget request is not legally binding but is the Executive Branch stating what its priorities are for the coming fiscal year. Below are the details on the requests for several accounts that Corps receive federal funding through.

AmeriCorps (The Corporation for National and Community Service)

  • AmeriCorps State and National
    • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $557,094,000
    • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $557,094,000
    • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $591,336,000
  • American Climate Corps: Within the President’s Budget Request for AmeriCorps, there are several call outs for the American Climate Corps (ACC).
  • AmeriCorps State and National: The $591,336,000 request for State and National “includes $23 million to grow ACC grants that will support 1,766 AmeriCorps members and build on AmeriCorps’ critical efforts to mitigate climate change threats.”
  • Salaries and Expenses: The $127,104,000 request for Salaries and Expenses “will provide $15 million to fund an ACC hub. This investment will include staffing and technology to support the ACC in addition to support for recruitment and related information, training, and partnership development to engage relevant stakeholders in successfully executing the initiative.”
  • Legislative Proposal: In the appendix for AmeriCorps Fiscal Year 2025 budget request, there is a legislative proposal for $8 billion in mandatory funding to support an additional 50,000 ACC Corpsmembers annually by 2031 and to provide job training and service opportunities on a wide range of projects that tackle climate change. This legislative proposal would require new or amended legislation by Congress.

Department of Interior (DOI)

  • Bureau of Land Management – Management of Land and Resources
    • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $1,368,969,000
    • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $1,261,612,000
    • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $1,395,249,000
  • National Park Service – Facilities Operation and Maintenance
    • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $938,677,000
    • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $914,164,000
    • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $974,000,000
  • Cost Share Waiver
    • In the General Provisions section of the Office of the Secretary’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2025, there is text for a cost share waiver for Public Lands Corps Act (page 396).

U.S. Forest Service

    • National Forest System
      • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $1,974,388,000
      • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $1,863,557,000
      • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $2,007,149,000

Department of Labor (DOL)

    • Apprenticeships:
      • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $285,000,000
      • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $285,000,000
      • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $335,000,000
    • Job Corps
      • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $1,760,155,000
      • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $1,760,155,000
      • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $1,764,376,000
    • Reentry Employment Opportunities:
      • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $115,000,000
      • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $115,000,000
      • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $120,000,000
    • YouthBuild:
      • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $105,000,000
      • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $105,000,000
      • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $105,000,000
    • WIOA Youth Activities:
      • Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted: $984,130,000
      • Fiscal Year 2024 Enacted: $948,130,000
      • Fiscal Year 2025 President’s Budget Request: $948,130,000

 

American Climate Corps

 

President Biden’s State of the Union Address

During his State of the Union address on March 7, President Biden highlighted the launch and his goal for the American Climate Corps, stating:

“And patterned after the Peace Corps and Ameri Corps, I’ve launched a Climate Corps to put 20,000 young people to work at the forefront of our clean energy future. I’ll triple that number this decade.”

It is tremendous that the American Climate Corps was included in the State of the Union address.  This is a speech that goes through countless drafts and is reviewed by numerous people and agencies –– for the American Climate Corps to be included in the final draft, that the President then gave to the nation, is something for us all to be proud of.

 

Earth Day 2024 Announcements

To celebrate Earth Day this year, President Biden gave a speech in Prince William Forest Park, a National Park Service site in Virginia that was developed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps. During his speech, President Biden announced the launch of the new American Climate Corps (ACC) recruitment website. The White House Earth Day Fact Sheet can be found here and President Biden’s Earth Day remarks can be found here. These announcements included:

  • The launch of ClimateCorps.gov, the new recruitment website for the ACC.
  • A new partnership with the North America’s Building Trades Unions’ (NABTU) non-profit partner TradesFutures.
  • ACC Corpsmembers will now have access to a streamlined pathway into federal service after a recent update to modernize the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Pathways Programs.
  • Three more states, Vermont, New Mexico and Illinois, are launching new state-based climate Corps programs, building on the ten existing states that have already launched climate Corps programs.
  • The launch of Energy Communities AmeriCorps, which will place ACC Corpsmembers in energy communities across the country to support projects in communities that have powered our nation for generations.

CPA Team Profile: NPS MAT Coordinator Seth Nelson

By: Emma Fantuzzo

About the CPA Team:

The Corps Project Assistance (CPA) Team was created by The Corps Network for the purpose of aiding the National Park Service (NPS) in scoping and creating cost estimates of facility-related projects at small to medium-sized parks across the country. These projects are meant to be carried out by crews consisting of NPS staff and Service and Conservation Corpsmembers. These parks often lack the staff capacity and funding to undertake the work on their own.

The CPA Team works with regional National Park Service Maintenance Action Teams (MAT) to identify and coordinate project work. Projects are funded through the Great American Outdoors Act. We spoke with Midwest Regional MAT Coordinator Seth Nelson about his Corps experience with Minnesota Conservation Corps and how it led him to a career with the National Park Service.

Q: How did you get involved in Corps?

Seth: I began as a Corpsmember with a Corps called Minnesota Conservation Corps (MCC). We worked for a few different agencies regularly, Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota DNR and Koochiching County Lands and Forestry.

While working for Voyageurs National Park, I liked the idea of working in a boat every day and being on the water. I grew up spending time and recreating on the lake. So, it was one of those things that made me say “Hey, this could be a really cool deal if I could end up working here.”

I was also drawn in by the AmeriCorps education award stipend. I hadn’t gone to college and so the idea that I could get money toward college after serving for with MCC, led me to join.

Q: What were memorable takeaways from your Corps experience?

Seth: A big highlight for me was that I found what I wanted to do for my career. Before the Corps, I had never been exposed to National Park work. I had been to Voyageurs National Park before, but I didn’t really think of it as a place where I could work. Working with the Corps, doing work at different campsites, building new trail systems, boardwalks and bridges and maintaining the other trails systems I grew to love the work there.  I worked through the youth Corps at Voyageur National Park for close to four years.

Q: What did you do after your Corps experience and how did you end up at NPS?

Seth: After working in Voyageurs for several seasons with the Corps, the Maintenance Supervisor at Voyageurs pulled me aside and said he liked my hard work and work ethic so he asked me to come and work there for him as a seasonal maintenance worker the following year, so that is what started my National Park Service Career.  That fall I used my education voucher that I earned through the Corps to help me go to college for Parks and Recreation Management.  I would go to school every fall and work for the National Park Service in the summers for the next 4 years.

I ended up working six seasons as a seasonal employee at Voyageurs for anywhere from four to six months depending on what I was doing with school. When I graduated, I began looking for a full time job in the Park Service and landed a Park Superintendent position for the city parks department, which was a great gig out of college. I got the position because of my Corps and NPS background. I did that for two years but as a guy who likes to be outside and working in nature, the city environment wasn’t my element, I needed to be back working with the woods and water.

I kept in contact with people I met at Voyageurs and one day I got a call about a permanent position that was open there, I applied for that position and got it and that’s how I ended up back with the NPS but as a permanent employee this time.

The position was called an FMSS Specialist, and I did maintenance inventory, wrote projects, managed park fleet and assisted on projects throughout the park.

After a couple years in that position, I got a Maintenance Supervisor position, which was really cool because I was able to work with Corps again. I was hiring Corps and bringing them on. I would have up to three Corps a year working in the park for me with different projects. It was great to go from starting at the Corps level and then be bringing Corps on to work with NPS. I brought on all different Corps: Student Conservation Association, Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, Montana Conservation Corps, American Conservation Experience, etc.

Q: What do you do in your current position?

Seth: In my current position I manage a fund source for the Midwest Region of the Park Service and also get to work with the Corps again as 15% of my funding must go towards youth projects and Corps, so I am very involved with the Corps now, even more so than when I was a supervisor.

I am working with nine Corps projects this year alone from my fund source. I work directly with the Corps leadership to get the agreements written, the budgets signed, projects developed and placement of the Corps in the parks.

My focus with Corps is to get them into newer, smaller parks that have never had help from Corps before.

Smaller parks are a bit apprehensive of getting a Corps crew because they don’t have many staff to oversee or assist with the youth projects but through my experience working with the Corps I am able to work with them and help them through the process.  Depending on the project, the Corps typically don’t need much oversight and once shown the project and what outcomes the park would like, they can take it from there and go to work.

It is beginning to take traction and now small parks that have never had Corps before are wanting to work with them every year.

I feel as if I have come full circle from a new member of a Corps to now developing projects and funding several Corps throughout the park service, it is a pretty good feeling and I plan to continue working with Corps and providing as many opportunities I am able too.

Q: What advice do you have for prospective Corpsmembers or Corpsmembers looking for a career with NPS?

Seth: What I would recommend to those folk is just take advantage of everything you can, the experiences, the training, all that and work hard, do your best. It gets noticed.

You will especially be noticed if you’re out front and willing to take stuff on and doing a great job when you’re there.

Whether you are interested in maintenance, cultural resources or natural resources, interpretation or law enforcement, there is something in the NPS for you.

The Park Service isn’t going to chase you, you have to chase it. Go after it, reach out to those people. Keep in contact with your supervisors and let them know your intent.

 

CPA Team Impact Story: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP

By: Emma Fantuzzo

About the CPA Team:

With support from the National Park Foundation, the Corps Project Assistance (CPA) Team was created 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.

Over the past two years, the CPA Team has scoped projects across the country, several of which have been completed. The finished projects include historic preservation projects at Camp Nelson National Monument, Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park

We talked with Scott Powell, Facility Manager and Acting Superintendent of Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, about his experience working with Corps and the impact he saw on the Corpsmembers.

Q: What was the project the Corps worked on and why was this work needed?

Scott: This project was focused on the replacement of 2,000 Linear feet of deteriorated split rail fencing found throughout the landscapes of Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP. These fences were in an advanced state of deterioration and by replacing them provided a restoration of the park’s historical appearance, significantly improving the preservation of cultural and natural resources as well as the visitor experiences in the park. The project was taken on by a crew of five Corpsmembers and a Crew Leader from American Conservation Experience.

Q: Why is the park partnering with a Corps program to complete this project and what are some benefits to the park?

Scott: The park partnered with Corps to not only address the issues with the deteriorated fence that was identified in the park’s Cultural Landscape Report but also to provide Corpsmembers the opportunity to learn. Corpsmembers gained knowledge and skills of things like, operational risk management, the use of hand and power tools, split rail fence construction, carpentry, and understanding of the history of NPS and Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP, and the purpose of land management agencies.
Completion of this project successfully addressed the need for the restoration of a more historically accurate cultural landscape. Replacing the deteriorated fence with new split rail improved the look of the site requiring much less maintenance for many years. This project aligns with Park’s Foundation Document in that it supports the presentation of a cultural landscape as it appeared when first constructed and provides an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in that period of history.

Q: What were some highlights of the partnership that you observed?

Scott: Seeing the impact on Corpsmembers was my biggest highlight. Most of the Corpsmembers had never seen a split rail fence, much less removed and installed a new one in its place. It was a highlight to see these youth engaging with their hands to build something that will affect this park and its visitors for years to come. The park leadership was also able to schedule a meeting with the Corpsmembers to discuss our career paths and ways that a person can start a career with the NPS.
It is my hope that each Corpsmember took away the importance of teamwork and how to rely on other members of their team to accomplish goals. I would also hope that the members understand the importance of our nations National Park’s and their historical resources and have a better understanding of the NPS mission.

Q: Was this your first Corps collaboration and what would you like to see out of future collaborations?

Scott: This was not the park’s first time working with the Corps. The park has utilized Corpsmembers to perform maintenance on trails, help build a rip rap drainage in the park. It is always a pleasure to work with the Corps and engage with its members. The park hopes to utilize the Corps in the future by working on one of the backcountry trails or even being part of replacing the remaining split rail fence in the park.
I think that other parks looking to work with Corps should make it happen. Engaging our youth while working with the Corps to rehabilitate historical assets and landscapes is vital not only to the future of NPS but also to the future of the United States of America.