Local Youth Get Taste of the National Park Service at Ninety Six NHS

Date: June 20, 2013
Contact: Sarah Cunningham, 864-543-4068

Local Youth Get Taste of the National Park Service at Ninety Six NHS

NINETY SIX, South Carolina: Local students get a taste of the National Park Service at Ninety Six National Historic Site this summer through two youth programs – the Youth Conservation Corps and the Colonial Summer Day Camp.

For eight weeks local students work and play at the park with the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC).As members of the YCC, the students have a personal role in protecting the nation's precious resources during this summer program. The YCC was established by Public Law 93-408 and is a summer employment program for young men and women between the ages of 15-18 who work, learn, and earn together on projects that further the development and conservation of the natural resources of the United States.Previous projects at Ninety Six include removing debris, building bridges and split rail fences, pruning trees, removing exotic plant species, and painting buildings. The work this summer will be similar to these previous projects. In addition to these tasks, the park will provide environmental education and field trips to other parks, and possibly a 5-day working/camping trip in another national park.

Rising third, fourth and fifth grade students from area schools will get to experience colonial life during a one-week camp, "A Class Act" Colonial Summer Day Camp.From June 24-28, over 25 students will spend each day at Ninety Six National Historic Site learning about the past.Participants will learn Native American Prehistoric skills and 18^th century living through immersive activities. This camp was made possible with a grant from the Greenwood County Foundation.  

John Slaughter, Park Superintendent believes firmly in youth programs saying, "What a great privileged we have to expose our youth to the career opportunities and incredible mission of the National Park Service. Combining the opportunity to learn work ethic, resource management, and local history, the local youth who have the opportunity to participate in both the YCC and Summer Camp will certainly have a "leg-up" as they head back to school in the fall."