By Monica Prelle
Camping Expert, about.com
The Cape Cod National Seashore will host a trail crew of eight high school students and two leaders through the Student Conservation Association (SCA) for three weeks in July 2015. The NPS Centennial Challenge provided the funding for the trail crew with matching funds from donations received at the national seashore.
“We’re
pleased to have received these funds to accomplish needed trail work,
and to engage young people who will play a pivotal role in supporting
national parks in the future,” said Superintendent George Price
announces that. “The SCA has a long history of providing college interns
and high school work crews to help parks accomplish the mission of
protecting resources and serving visitors. Each year we place up to a
dozen 12-week interns at the national seashore, but this is the first
time we have hosted a high school crew.”
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The crewmembers are recruited nationally and will focus on improving trail conditions at Bearberry Hill in Truro.
[post_ads]They will repair water bars, replace the gravel
surface, trim vegetation, and close off unofficial trails that cross
through sensitive and globally rare heathland habitat. They may also
assist with repairing fences and mobilizing supplies for other trail
projects at the national seashore. They will learn trail maintenance
methods and tool use, and will develop teamwork skills. In addition,
they will participate in career and resource awareness sessions to help
them understand the mission and goals of the National Park Service and
the nature, history, and recreational opportunities of the national
seashore.
The SCA places many such crews in parks and other
federal lands across the US every summer. For many young people, this
summer work experience is pivotal to career decisions, with many of them
eventually landing paid seasonal positions. Crewmembers are not paid,
but the costs for their travel, meals, supplies, and supervision are
covered.
“These young people will not be paid in dollars, but
they’ll have a summer they’ll never forget, with sunsets over the bay, a
swim in the Atlantic, some sore muscles, for sure, and the great
feeling that comes from helping to protect a special place like the
national seashore,” Price said.
[post_ads]The National Park Service
will commemorate the centennial of the establishment next year. During
this time of celebrations there are many initiatives, including the NPS
Centennial Challenge for projects and programs at national parks. The
Centennial Challenge awarded funding to more than 100 projects across
the National Park Service to leverage a $10 million congressional
appropriation with $15.9 million matching funds from more than 90
partner organizations.
With the 100th anniversary approaching in 2016, the park service is also launching Find Your Park,
a public awareness and education campaign to celebrate the milestone
centennial. First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Laura Bush will serve as
honorary co-chairs to promote the celebration and to encourage
Americans to connect with their favorite parks and public lands.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE PROJECTS
The
National Park Service has selected more than 100 projects to leverage a
$10 million congressional appropriation with $15.9 million matching
funds from more than 90 partner organizations.View the list of FY15 Centennial Challenge Projects.
These
projects will improve visitor services, support outreach to new
audiences, and strengthen partnerships to reinvigorate national parks
and forge connections to new communities.
