Gov. Jay Nixon visited Finger Lakes State Park Thursday to provide details for the return in 2011 of the highly successful State Parks Youth Corps (SPYC) program, which the Governor initiated last February. In 2010, the SPYC program, a cooperative partnership between the Division of Workforce Development and the Division of State Parks, provided employment for young people performing vital maintenance, restoration and research projects to enhance Missouri's 85 state parks and historic sites.
The State Parks Youth Corps and Gov. Nixon were recognized in September with the President's Award from the National Association of State Parks Directors for the innovative program. The Governor said the SPYC program carried several benefits, and that its return in 2011 would again be a boost for youth employment and for Missouri state parks and historic sites.
"At a time when it has been particularly difficult for young people to find employment, the SPYC program put money in the pockets of working families and helped further beautify our outstanding system of state parks and historic sites," Gov. Nixon said. "I look forward to the next group of SPYC workers building on the success of the first year, and encourage anyone interested to apply online, beginning in February."
At Finger Lakes State Park, the Governor saw examples of the work done by the SPYC team. Last summer they assisted parks staff in building the Kelley Branch Trail, a 2.25-mile loop trail for mountain bikers and hikers that is expected to open in spring 2011. SPYC workers returning next year will enhance and maintain the trail. While mountain biking has been allowed on the off-road vehicle trails throughout Finger Lakes, this will be the first trail open to hikers.
The Governor said that the 2011 State Parks Youth Corps will employ Missourians between ages 17 and 21, and will run between April 1 and Nov. 30. Applications will be accepted online beginning Feb. 1; a link to the application and information about the program will be provided on the state of Missouri website, mo.gov.
"The State Parks Youth Corps was a tremendous benefit for our state parks and historic sites," said Bill Bryan, director of the Division of State Parks. "They brought a new energy to our state park system and, most importantly, they helped us enhance and improve our facilities for everyone to enjoy."
In 2010, State Parks Youth Corps members did a variety of tasks from routine maintenance work and trail construction to interpretation and social media efforts. Examples include painting buildings and repairing roofs and windows; planting trees and maintaining landscapes; building and maintaining trails; inventorying historic artifacts and native plant species; assisting in offices and visitor centers and providing seasonal interpretation.
Throughout the year, SPYC workers put in more than 187,500 hours at the parks, including roofing 25 buildings; painting structures using 2,000 gallons of paint; signing and blazing almost 650 miles of trail in 58 parks and sites; and developing 145 videos for the state park website.
The State Parks Youth Corps has been compared to the Civilian Conservation Corps, which developed much of the Missouri state park system in the 1930s. Many of the buildings the State Parks Youth Corps repaired this year were built by the CCC.
"There are many benefits to this program but those who benefit the most are the people who come to visit Missouri state parks," Gov. Nixon said. "Missouri state parks are truly a treasure, and we must do what we can to preserve and protect them for future generations."
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