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Work, learn, play and grow, the motto of the U.S. Youth Conservation Corps, is definitely true for the kids from Holbrook, Joseph City, Indian Wells and Sanders who were chosen to participate in the Petrified Forest (PEFO) Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) this summer.
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The eight-week long program began in early June with a week-long camp out, that has continued into day work both at PEFO and in surrounding communities, including a day spent scraping and repainting the concrete picnic tables at Holbrook’s Hunt Park, pulling weeds at the Holbrook Public Library flower garden and then cooling off at the city pool on June 26.
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The crew of 10 kids and two mentors, included, Sheldon Shay, Julian Gurule, Nicholette Benton, Gracie John, Trinity Jones, Kellie King, Samuel Laughter, Levina Rogers, Keith Sheuerman and Noah Soto with mentors Cassidy Fogel from Flagstaff and Jack Lodermeier from Madison, Wis.
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Also, on board were PEFO Supervisory Park Ranger Sarah Herve, maintenance worker and YCC Program Manager Polly Barela and YCC Program Coordinator Emily Swartz.
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“Holbrook is PEFO’s gateway community. Thousands of park visitors come through and often stay the night in our town,” shared Herve. “Having the park and the YCC kids care for and beautify the city helps emphasize the importance of that connection.”
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Started in the 1970s, the YCC program is open to kids from 15-18 years old, who want to spend a summer working in outdoor conservation projects with their local national parks.
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Not only do the kids get paid, but they get to work in some of the coolest places in the country, while learning about careers available in the National Park Service and gaining valuable work skills that can help get the next job.
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Swartz said she got involved in YCC as a teenager growing up in Colorado and followed that path to where she is now. “I run the Tucson and state YCC programs, giving local youth and young adults job opportunities as well as educational, personal and professional development from a wide array of outdoor projects that can include cleaning up trails, thinning forests, running saws and even painting picnic tables. The work is never boring.”
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For Fogel, the summer job has been an extension of the parks and recreation program he is studying at Northern Arizona University and is the first time he has been involved in the YCC program. “I just started at the end of May and have enjoyed it a lot. It is a good opportunity to practice leadership skills and working with younger populations.”
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Lodermeier came out in February to be a part of the Arizona Conservation Corp, an adult program that lasted for three months. Impressed by his work, Lodermeier was offered the mentoring position with the PEFO YCC.
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Lodermeier, who is studying geology at the University of Wisconsin, said his time in Arizona has been an eye-opening experience. “I have met a lot of different people from very different backgrounds, which has really opened my eyes to the diversity of life.”
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Continuing to share, Lodermeier said he has enjoyed the opportunity to do different jobs, learn new skills, especially leadership and problem solving. “After these last few months, I would like to stay working outdoors.”
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As far as the YCC participants were concerned, it has been a great summer so far. From learning more about PEFO, making new friends, learning work and leadership skills as well as earning a paycheck, there really isn’t a down-side to be part of this program.
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Gracie, from Indian Wells, said she decided to apply because her brother did it last year and liked it. A junior at Holbrook High School, Gracie said, “My favorite part is hanging out at the Petrified Forest and getting to know everyone. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.”
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Julian, a junior at Holbrook High School, loved the adventure and outdoor experience. “The mentors are more than mentors; they connect with us and have become our friends.”
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Julian also discovered that there was a lot more to the Petrified Forest than just a 27-mile drive from the north end to the south end. “The Rainbow Forest is one of my new favorite spots. I remember driving through it, but there is so much more to the park. It has been fun to get out and explore in it. It is beautiful.”
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Just a few weeks into the summer and Julian is seriously considering looking at a career as a park ranger. “This job helps toward that and it has been a great experience.”
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Samuel, a junior at Holbrook, said he applied for the YCC because he wanted to do things that would help to bring positive change. “I am pretty amazed by the things I have seen at the Petrified Forest. It has given me some ideas of what I want to study moving forward.”
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For Kellie from Joseph City and Levina of Sanders, being able to work and get paid has been a great part of it. “I also loved working with the paleontologists,” noted Levina. “It gives me something to do,” shared Kellie, “I hate being bored.”
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Swartz concluded, “Seeing people grow and change is the best part of this job. I have had kids from crews that I lead years later, that reached back and told me that they found a good track in life and it was because of the life changing experience with YCC.”
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