By Talaina Kor There are many advantages to have a national park so close and one of them is the Youth Conservation Corps. Each year a group of local youth are given the opportunity to spend the summer working in the YCC, cleaning and restoring parks and recreation areas and learning the value of preserving the land. Earlier this month the Petrified Forest National Park (PFNP) YCC served in Holbrook, lending much needed hands to the Hidden Cove Petroglyph Park and at the property surrounding the Holbrook Public Library. Sarah Herve, who serves as Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services at PFNP knows the program not only brings value to the community but to the kids who serve, believing it’s important to provide opportunities for local youth. “It’s a really great program for the kids, and they are able to earn money.” Michael O’Dell manages Hidden Cove Petroglyph Park in Holbrook and greatly appreciates the work being done by YCC and the partnership with PFNP. “For several years they (YCC) have set a day aside so they can help me at Hidden Cove Park. This time they helped at the new Hammer Stone Trail and Zuck Ranch Trail. There has been a strong partnership between the park and the city since they helped with the grant process that started back in about 2010. The Petroglyph Park would not be where it is today, without all the help and guidance they given us over the years,” stated O’Dell. Arizona Conservation Corps members Desiree Dyer and Anna Coffee, both from Flagstaff, worked with the youth through their projects as mentors. “It’s like an experience as opposed to a job,” stated Coffee, “Every Friday we have field trips – we went to Walnut Canyon, Homolovi, we even did a little clean up at Clear Creek and got to swim there.” PFNP is one of many parks throughout the country that offer similar programs. 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. 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.
