BLM-Volunteer Feature of the Month

A special group of young people found themselves working on a rooftop last summer in a unique program that paired youth needing to do community service work with the BLM's need for roof repair. The roof belonged to an old structure that BLM received as part of the acquisition of a 2,300-acre tract on the Beaverhead River 12 miles south of Dillon, Montana. BLM received a goldmine of historical information with the property in addition to terrific riparian areas and wildlife habitat.

The old log house, part of the remnants of a homestead acquired recently by BLM, with its new roof.

The cultural properties included an 1805 campsite of Capt. William Clark (from the famous Lewis & Clark Expedition), a rock art site and remnants of an old homestead known as the Ney Ranch. The homestead contained a number of written documents, photographs, and artifacts tied to a log house and outbuildings on the property – all making the acquisition an extremely valuable addition to the public lands system. In addition, descendants of the original homesteaders still live in the area and can recount the stories that make history come alive.

A recognition of the value of this site prompted this special summer project for the Montana Youth Challenge group. Young people from the group were put to work to clear debris and to replace the deteriorating roof of the log house. They succeeded in helping to restore the 130-year old structure to remarkably good condition.

The Montana Youth Challenge Program is managed and supervised by the Montana National Guard. The program targets juveniles between the ages of 16-20 who have dropped out of high school and subsequently have gotten into trouble. As an alternative to a Juvenile Detention Center, they can apply to get into the Challenge Program. This is a competitive process. To complete the program, each participant must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service. The Ney Ranch project provided a perfect community service opportunity for these teens. They worked very hard to successfully complete the roofing project.

In addition to the boot-camp like training, the Challenge Program also provides an education program, awarding a GED (General Educational Development) diploma to those who complete the program. Many of the students who have graduated from the program go on to join the military or attend college. The sense of pride they develop toward their community service efforts promotes an initiative and a confidence to reach new goals.

The Montana Youth Challenge Program has formed a partnership with the BLM Dillon Field Office in an effort to engage in future projects where everyone benefits. The BLM congratulates these young people and their contributions to their community.

Participants in Montana's Youth Challenge Program remove the old roof install a new one at Montana's Ney Ranch.

For more information, log onto the following websites:
BLM's Dillon, Montana, Field Office: http://www.mt.blm.gov/dfo/
Montana Youth Challenge Program: http://www.wmc.edu/mycp/
Ney Ranch: http://www.mt.blm.gov/ea/steward/Fall2001.pdf (see page 4)

Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Feature

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Volunteer Feature