Summer Youth Crew from Elk County makes difference in the ANF
Over this past summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service-Allegheny National Forest (ANF) hosted a group of high school-aged individuals that were recruited throughout the Elk County area across the Marienville Ranger District.
In a press release, the Forest Service shared that the crew was sponsored and directed as a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) by the Allegheny National Forest and hosted by Ridgway Township. Other parties that were involved in this program were the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) , the non-profit Student Conservation Association (SCA), and educational programming by the Elk County Conservation District (ECCD).
In total, the youth crew worked for six weeks in the ANF and in Ridgway Township. Some of the notable work they did was cleaning up campsites along the Clarion Wild and Scenic River and brushed the Laurel Mill trail system and began the Hemlock Loop Trail realignment.
The Allegheny Hike, Bike and Ski Club assisted the youth group with planning and carrying out tasks on the Laurel Mill Trail system. Additionally, the team planted five different types of trees in the Twin Lakes Recreation Area and completed several projects in their last week around Ridgway that included campsite and stream bank improvements, and dock staining.
Marienville District Ranger Rob Fallon made comments in the press release on the efforts of the youth crew and the entities that were involved in making the program a success.
“This was a terrific partnership on providing a meaningful outdoor experience for youth in Elk County through paid employment and educational activities,” Fallon said. “I am grateful to all of the partners that contributed to the success of this program. Young people today will dictate the future success of our local communities tomorrow, and the work that this summer crew did over six weeks is admirable, and each of them should be proud of what they accomplished.”