Project Titles:

• Employ YCC Enrollees (FFS #R3NA, R3NB)
• Employ Conservation Interns (FFS #R3NC)
• Employ Conservation Interns (FFS #R3ND)
• Employ STEP Youth (FFS #R3NE)
• Employ STEP Youth (FFS #R3NF)

State: Regionwide

Project Description: Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Student Temporary Employment (STEP) and Conservation Intern Hiring Program

There are 73 Recovery Act projects in the Midwest Region, including six of which that are region-wide student/intern employment projects totaling $443,700 including:

$93,242 to employ 150 Youth Conservation Corps employees at rural field stations throughout the Midwest (R3NA)

$198,084 to employ 240 Youth Conservation Corps employees each at 20 urban field stations throughout the Midwest (R3NB)

$30,000 to employ 24 conservation interns at rural field stations (R3NC)

$38,565 to employ 50 conservation interns each at rural field stations (R3ND)

$10,000 to employ 40 Student Temporary Employment (STEP) employees at urban field stations (R3NE)

$73,809 to employ 60 Student Temporary Employment (STEP) employees and other temporary youth hires at rural field stations (R3NF)

The $28.5 million dollars awarded through ARRA to the Midwest Region was distributed to field offices for projects in each of the 8 states in the region (and one project in Nebraska at Boyer Chute NWR, administered by staff at Desoto NWR, Iowa):

Iowa – five projects and employing 60 YCC and 10 STEP students, totaling $2.58 million

Illinois – four projects and employing 30 YCC students and 10 conservation interns, totaling $1.04 million

Indiana – four projects and employing 30 YCC students and 10 conservation interns, totaling $172,000

Michigan – 18 projects and employing 30 YCC students and 16 conservation interns, totaling $6.42 million

Minnesota – 10 projects and employing 40 STEP students, 90 YCC students and 12 conservation interns, totaling $3.45 million

Missouri – nine projects and employing 60 YCC students and 10 conservation interns, totaling $5.14 million

Nebraska – one project totaling $250,000 (administered by Desoto NWR, IA)

Ohio – six projects and employing 30 YCC students and 6 conservation interns, totaling $1.77 million

Wisconsin – nine projects and employing 60 YCC students, 50 STEP students, and 10 conservation interns, totaling $7.48 million

The Youth Conservation Corps provides summer employment for youth between the ages of 15 and 18 and provides them an opportunity to work, earn, and learn by completing projects that further the development and conservation of the nation’s natural resources. The most important objective of the program is to take young adults from different social, economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and place them in an environment where they can cultivate work, social, and educational skills.

The Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) was designed to introduce talented students to the advantages and challenges of working for the Federal Government; to provide opportunities for students to combine academic study with on-the-job work experience; and to provide opportunities for students to earn money while continuing their education. This program includes positions in all occupational groups (Professional, Administrative, Technical, Clerical, Wage Grade) within the Service.

Youth Employment at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Just One of the

Many Success Stories of Youth Hiring in the Midwest Region

A summer filled with beach cleanups, trimming trails, habitat restoration for the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly, and banding egrets and great blue herons is just the beginning for high school students at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided funding allowing these experiences to happen.

“I now know how much damage Spotted Knapweed does to the beaches,” stated a YCC enrollee who gathered 100 garbage bags full of this invasive plant from the Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge beach.

The Refuge considers 2009’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program a big success. For most of the enrollees, this was their first job. “Some of the students were contemplating a career in the environmental field, and this program provided them with first-hand experience,” stated Sara Siekierski, Wildlife Refuge Specialist. The students learned what was to be expected of them as an employee and gained new skills that they can apply in future employment opportunities. Their hard work, dedication, and youthful enthusiasm were greatly appreciated by the Refuge.

On Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge YCC crew leader Kylie Biggert, guided her crew with little effort. As a team, one of their biggest accomplishments was to place boundary signs on 8 refuge properties totaling 530 acres of refuge land.

To fulfill the YCC program requirements, the crew took part in many educational programs during their 8-week employment with Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. One YCC enrollee stated, “My favorite thing this summer was when we went on the ferry to Gibraltar Island and toured the Stone Laboratory.” All of the field trips and work at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge exposed the students to different career paths and taught them about many of the different environmental programs and organizations.

Photos:

(From left to right) Ottawa NWR YCC Crew members Kylie Biggert, Oliver Cornet, Allison Burkett, Haley Smith, and Hunter St. Clair. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)	YCC crew leader Kylie Biggert guides her crew as they head out to place boundary signs on eight refuge properties that total a combined 530 acres of refuge land at Ottawa NWR. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)
Ottawa NWR YCC student Allison Burkett assists with the Ohio DNR’s annual goose round up. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)	YCC crew members Haley Smith and Allison Burkett perform habitat restoration work at Ottawa NWR. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)

Hunter St. Clair, Ottawa NWR YCC, holds a goose that he banded during the Ohio DNR’s annual goose round up. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service photo)

To learn more about the youth employment projects at a specific refuge, visit the facility’s project page!

Originally posted 06/16/2010
Updated 06/28/2010
Page Completed 10/26/2011