Youth Conservation Corps - Program Elements
PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE:
- Trail maintenance or construction of new trails.
- Construction of picnic pads and tent sites framed with wood and filled with gravel or stone dust.
- Reframing and weeding of garden beds and landscaping by a park’s visitor center.
- Removal of invasive species such as Tree of Heaven, Wavy Leaf Basket Grass, and Autumn Olive.
- Construction of stream crossings, water bars and other features to guide users away from treading on ‘social trails’ that can contribute to erosion.
- Laying of mulch, gravel, stone dust, or other materials in areas that need to be refurbished.
- Collaboration with AmeriCorps members, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Park Volunteers and other groups to accomplish projects including but not limited to those listed.
Before and after work was done on a stream crossing by the YCC crew at Sky Meadows State Park.
LODGING AND MEALS:
Crews will live in park housing on state park property, which could be a bunkhouse, double-wide trailer or lodge. All housing is required to have bunks beds for 10 Crew Members, and a separate room with beds for the Crew Leaders. All meals are provided, and most are cooked collaboratively in the bunkhouse or on the grill.
FUN ACTIVITIES:
Interpretive, environmental education and recreation activities that crews have enjoyed in the past include:
- Tubing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, or biking at neighboring state parks.
- Astronomy programs or “star parties”.
- Snake or other animal identification programs.
- Archery programs.
- Fishing programs.
- Cavern or cave trips.
- Visits to nearby towns and attractions.
- Bird or plant walks led by a Virginia Master Naturalist.