The Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps SYEP

Best Practices- Green JobsIndiana

Agency Partnership

• The Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps (YHCC) was a program designed by Governor Mitch Daniels that would provide a lasting value to the State of Indiana through the creation of jobs and completion of park projects.

• Formed through a cooperative partnership between the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Program Overview

• May 1- September 30; later extended to October 16

• Five (5) Start Dates• 16 weeks of employment available to in-school

and out-of-school youth• $8.50/hour for all participants• Over 75 DNR worksites• Variety of job duties• Extensive participant monitoring

DNR Worksites

• State Parks

• Historic Sites

• Reservoirs

• Recreational Areas

• Fish & Wildlife Sites

• State Forests

• Nature Preserves

Program Overview

• Online application process through state website

• WorkOne (DWD) and DNR supervisors conducted joint youth interviews

• Positions were matched with youth skills:- Labor- Gate Attendants/Cashiers, Visitor Services- Administration/Office - Naturalists/Educators

Orientation Overview

• 1 Day Orientation held at WorkOne office or DNR Property

• Included all State Employee policies, welcome message from Governor Daniels, supervisor and worksite expectations, work readiness goals, overview of WorkOne services, and available DNR career pathways

• Conducted jointly by DNR and WorkOne staff• Youth received on-site workplace and equipment

safety on Day 2

DNR Green Career Pathways

BiologistsBiologistsThey study plants, wildlife They study plants, wildlife and fish to learn more about and fish to learn more about habits and habitat, and help habits and habitat, and help determine how fishing and determine how fishing and hunting laws should be hunting laws should be established and when established and when animals should not be animals should not be hunted and plants should be hunted and plants should be protected.protected.

DNR Green Career PathwaysPreservation

Specialists & Archeologists

Preservation specialists care Preservation specialists care for and restore important for and restore important buildings and structures that buildings and structures that help staff understand help staff understand Indiana’s past. Indiana’s past.

Archaeologists and their Archaeologists and their aides carefully investigate aides carefully investigate sites for evidence of Native sites for evidence of Native Americans and other Americans and other cultures before construction cultures before construction or other changes to the or other changes to the landscape take place.landscape take place.

DNR Green Career Pathways

ForestersForestersForesters survey and Foresters survey and measure timber, manage measure timber, manage state forests, and help state forests, and help private landowners manage private landowners manage their woodlands.their woodlands.

DNR Green Career PathwaysProperty Laborers

Labor staff members are the Labor staff members are the backbone of property backbone of property operations. They mow grass, operations. They mow grass, paint, repair trails and paint, repair trails and buildings, assist with buildings, assist with events, keep equipment events, keep equipment running, and much more to running, and much more to keep DNR sites looking keep DNR sites looking

good.good.

DNR Green Career Pathways

Naturalists & EducatorsNaturalists and educators Naturalists and educators provide visitors, teachers provide visitors, teachers and students with programs and students with programs and information about the and information about the plants, wildlife, water, soils, plants, wildlife, water, soils, the DNR and properties the DNR and properties where they work.where they work.

DNR Green Career Pathways

Property Managers and AssistantsProperty managers and Property managers and assistant managers are in assistant managers are in charge of the resources, charge of the resources, people and facilities at a people and facilities at a state property. It’s a big job state property. It’s a big job and every day is different!and every day is different!

YHCC Completed Projects

• 1932 youth employed at DNR worksites

• 750 projects completed at more than 75 DNR properties

• Constructed more than 30 miles of new trails

• Rehabilitated 500 miles of existing trails

• Constructed 15 new buildings

• Renovated and repaired 380 existing buildings

• Rehabilitated 50 historic buildings

• Treated or removed 5,000 acres of invasive species

YHCC Completed Green Projects

Invasive Species RemovalYouth completed this ongoing project at many state parks and recreational areas across the state. Includes removal of non-native species such as Autumn Olive, Bush Honeysuckle, and Purple Loosestrife.

Removal of these plants allows re-growth of native plants.

YHCC Completed Green Projects

Trail Work- Constructed new trails for persons with disabilities

- Leveled trail grade with use of recycled materials

- Constructed mountain bike trails

YHCC Completed Green Projects

Bridge ConstructionYouth worked with Property Managers to construct new bridges at several parks including Clifty Falls, Shakamak, Falls of the Ohio and others.

The Hoffman Bridge at Clifty Falls State Park was constructed using recycled materials from Hurricane Katrina, and also taught the youth planning and building skills using Egyptian transportation methods.

YHCC Completed Green Projects

Habitat Improvement, Seed Collection & Erosion Control

YHCC Completed Green Projects

Building Rehabilitation and Construction

YHCC Completed Green Projects

Rehabilitation of CCC Structures and Fire Towers

YHCC Youth

• 1433 youth completed work readiness goal

• 304 youth attained full-time or part-time positions during or after YHCC program

• 348 youth enrolled in post-secondary school or training programs during or after YHCC program

The Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps