Youth Natural Resource Program
helps Forest and Parks
Custer, SD – Tribal youth are giving a helping
hand to nature.
Eighteen young people from across the state and region participated
in the Youth Natural Resource Program this summer, assisting the
U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service in conservation projects.
“This is an opportunity to get more kids in the woods,”
said Lou Conroy, Wildlife Biologist of the Black Hills National
Forest and YNRP Coordinator. “There are a lot of young people
that are becoming detached from the outdoors and nature, and this
is an opportunity for the U.S. Forest Service to give back and allow
young people to play an active role in the management of the national
forest.”
“I had never really been in the forest until I did this,”
said Kwame Powell, 19, a program participant from Denver. “Some
of the stuff we do out here is to help the community, help some
of the animals, and help out the forest. I’m glad I got to
do this.”
They are now in their final week of the summer program, and are
working with the Black Hills National Forest to build fences around
a sensitive willow species to protect it from livestock and wildlife.
This summer the teens have also restored cabins, built trails, removed
noxious weeks, planted trees, and enhanced streams. Their work improved
areas throughout the Black Hills National Forest, and the Mt. Rushmore
and Devil’s Tower Monuments.
Conroy said that the kids build job skills, but they also build
friendships.
“There’s a lot of teamwork,” said Brittany Sandovao,
24, Crew Supervisor from Cheyenne, Wyo. “Everyone pushes each
other to get stuff done, and it’s awesome when it’s
done. It feels like you’ve accomplished something.”
This is the eighth year of the cooperative program between the
federal agencies and the Sioux tribal governments. Through a cost-share
agreement, teens from area tribes are given the opportunity to play
an active role in the management of the Black Hills National Forest.
The participating tribes and the U.S. Forest Service view the tribal
youth work program as a means to employ youth and mentor those enrollees
towards a career in federal or tribal land management. Participants
include the Cheyenne River Sioux, Yankton Sioux, and Standing Rock
Tribes, plus Pine Ridge High School.
For more information about the Black Hills National Forest, contact
the U.S. Forest Service at (605) 673-9200, or visit the website
at www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.
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