YCC provides youth with leadership skills


The Youth Conservation Crew program took place every Thursday in June at Central Park. Several projects were accomplished thanks to the hard work of those who attended. From left are Deacon Besler, Ethan Ponder, Olivia Besler, Tristan Weers, Jacob Miller, Chance Hall, Dylan Ponder, Emma Althoff, Caroline Olson, and Anna James. (Photos courtesy of Michele Olson)

Kids with the Jones County YCC walk through the dried lakebed at Central Park, collecting litter and trash the seeped to the bottom the lake over the years. This was just one of the many volunteer opportunities in the program.

The YCC kids work to remove trees and shrubs in the prairie as you enter Central Park. This was in an effort to control the growth of trees in the native prairie.
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     This is the first year for the Jones County Youth Conservation Crew (YCC), and it’s proven to be a success.

     Michele Olson, Jones County Naturalist, led the program of area high school and middle school youth, ages 12 to 19.

     The YCC provides youth with an opportunity to volunteers over the summer for Jones County Conservation.

     “It’s an opportunity for youth to get involved in conservation ownership and see the results of their work,” expressed Olson of the program.

     The program took place throughout the month of June, meeting from 8 a.m. to noon every Thursday.

     “By July and August, people get busy and it gets really hot,” said Olson of timing the program just right.

     There were 12 kids (girls and boys) in the YCC this year; Olson said she was prepared to cap it at 15.

     “It’s easier to work with a smaller group,” said Olson.

     Each day, the youth took part in leadership activities, educational conservation and ecology programs, and hands-on service learning.

     Some of the projects the group took on included picking up litter and trash out of the dried lakebed (in preparation for the Central Park Lake Restoration Project), building a stepping stone trail around the Nature Center, clearing trees and shrubs from the prairie, building demonstration fish habitats, and surveying for monarch butterflies.

     In the lakebed, the kids found such items as: a tackle box, an ice fishing scoop, a bow fishing arrow, antique bottles and cans, jars, swimming goggles, toys, and several shoes.

     “They were able to remove 15 large garbage bags full,” remarked Olson.

     The stone path on the east side of the Nature Center at the park leads to a restored prairie from the butterfly/pollinator garden to the lower level of the facility.

     “It’s about teaching the kids leadership skills, working with their peers, experience in the field, and cooperation,” said Olson. She said her goal was to provide an educational component along with each project.

     For all of the work performed, inside and outside, the youth were provided with work gloves, water and snacks. A new member t-shirt was paid for courtesy of the Friends of Jones County Conservation.

     Olson said the work performed by the youth could go toward community service hours at local schools or on resumes.

     “I hope they tell their families and friends about it and we get more kids next summer,” said Olson, who wants to establish an all-day all-ages volunteer day at Central Park yet this year.

     Crewmembers taking part in the YCC came from Monticello, Hopkinton, Center Junction, and Anamosa.

     For more information on Central Park, the Nature Center, and Conservation, visit www.jonescountyiowa.org/conservation.

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