Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Lou Conroy (605) 716-1863, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

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.