Tennessee Youth Finish Valuable Work This Summer at Big South Fork NRRA

This year’s Tennessee crew members were selected from York Institute and Oneida High School and included Tyler Chitwood, Braxton Ipock, Shelby Yancey, Isaac Jeffers, Randy Delk, Faith McCrary, and Taylor Slaven.

News Release Date: August 19, 2016

Contact: Johanna Wheeler, [phone]

Contact: Christopher Derman, [phone]

High school students from Fentress and Scott Counties recently finished the summer working on a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) team at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. This year’s Tennessee crew members were selected from York Institute and Oneida High School and included Tyler Chitwood, Braxton Ipock, Shelby Yancey, Isaac Jeffers, Randy Delk, Faith McCrary, and Taylor Slaven. 

The young adults spent nine weeks this summer working alongside crew leaders Don Phillips and Cody Karsner and other National Park Service employees. 

This year’s Tennessee crew members worked on a number of projects, including the rehabilitation of the Twin Arches day use picnic area, the removal of accumulated sand from waterfront trail boardwalks that are located in the Big South Fork River floodplain, along with working on the beginning process of installing a new loop trail at Brewster Bridge. 

The Youth Conservation Corps is a summer employment program for young men and women, ages 15-18, to work on projects to protect public lands. While under the supervision of professional crew leaders, the YCC program provides both training and professional outdoor work experience on National Park Service lands. Youths learn how to use tools, safe work habits, teamwork, and how conservation projects benefit the environment and protect natural and cultural resources. 

For more information about the Youth Conservation Corps, please use the following link https://www.nps.gov/gettinginvolved/youthprograms/ycc.htm.