News Release

YCC Team at Big South Fork Helping Keep Campgrounds in Great Shape

YCC crew refurbishing wooden railing

NPS

News Release Date: July 11, 2024

Contact: Christopher Derman, 423-569-9778

This year’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Team at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area has been busy painting multiple structures throughout the park. The YCC program is a paid summer youth (ages 15-18) work program in federally managed lands, introducing young Americans to conservation opportunities in public lands. Youth Conservation Corps members work in public lands restoring, rehabilitating, and repairing the natural, cultural, and historical resources protected as federally preserved places.

The crew, led by National Park Service staff who transport, supervise, train, and educate students. Throughout the course of daily work, students will learn basic trades labor skills in addition to cultural and environmental topics to develop youth stewardship toward park resources. The park will incorporate instructor-led recreational activities, educational fieldtrips, and classroom instruction.

Completion of this project will maintain the life cycle of associated building assets and components. As a result, visitor satisfaction and safety will be improved. Youth students will learn new skills, improve teamwork skills, develop environmental impact understanding, and foster youth stewardship for the National Park Service mission.

This year’s YCC team members include Gabriel Byrge and Hayden Robinson from York Agricultural Institute, Jaicey Carson and Lucas Dyer from Scott County High School, and Gideon Christian, Ben Kennedy, Kiara Kennedy and Skylar Robbins from Oneida High School.

For more informaion about the Youth Conservation Corps, use this link: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/ycc.htm