SUPERIOR — After eight weeks of exposure to nearly every aspect of the Forest Service, the five members of the 2019 Superior Ranger District Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew submitted their final timesheet, saying goodbye to a summer of adventure, unique experiences, and what some soundly describe as “FUN” while working.

YCC is a summer employment program for youth ages 15 through 18. Through the program, crew members complete natural resource-related work on public lands to develop an understanding and appreciation of the natural environment and their local heritage.

Foundational to their summer program, the crews receive experience in a diverse spectrum of natural resource disciplines, providing broad exposure to many facets of land management.

This season’s crew members represented a cross section of Mineral County; members included Wesley Buchanan, Hewston Coon, and Carter McLees from Superior; Lyssah Kromrey from Alberton; and Joseph Lower from DeBorgia.

They participated in a wide variety of projects, overseen by resource specialists from Superior Ranger District and the Lolo National Forest. “This year’s crew was outstanding to work with,” said Debra Regan, crew leader and forester for the Lolo National Forest. “YCC is a great step toward career and college aspirations because the experience provides a job in the outdoors and a limitless learning environment, while accomplishing necessary and immensely enjoyable work on public lands.”

The projects that the crew participated in were purposefully diverse in discipline so crew members received a broad range of experiences. For example, the crew worked with News Release Media Contact: Kate Jerman and United States Department of Agriculture archaeology specialists to build pavers for the Savenac Historic Tree nursery walkway, they worked with soil specialists on restoration projects, and they also worked with wildlife biologists to record plots for Snowshoe hare surveys.

Additionally, the crew worked on replacing boards on bridges, removing vegetation for forest health projects, fish surveys, maintenance of travel and trail corridors for recreation opportunities, and digging fire line for future prescribed fire projects.

In keeping with the YCC programs’ focus on education, the District provided four educational outings for the crew: a field trip to an active timber sale; a field trip to the Idaho Forest Group (IFG) mill in St. Regis, MT; a day of horse packing training with the Wild Horse Plains Back Country Horsemen; and resume training.

Education about local ecology, places and landmarks, cultural resources and history was incorporated into the crew’s day to day activities and work projects by their crew leader.

The establishment of the YCC crew program on the Superior Ranger District was made possible in part by the 2016 Mineral County RAC (Resource Advisory Committee) who approved over $13,000 of seed money to support the initial program.

Since the initial launch, the Forest Service’s Regional Office has helped to provide funding for the local program for three successful seasons, along with staff and materials/supplies support from the Superior Ranger District. YCC provides valuable work experience that can lead to a summer job with the Forest Service.

Kade Parkin was a member of the first Superior YCC crew in 2016; two years later he was hired to a regular seasonal appointment with the Forest Service on the trail crew.

Two members from the 2019 crew hope to be hired in 2020 following their graduation from high school. For more information on the Superior Ranger District YCC program please contact the Superior Ranger District at 406-822-4233.