Youths spruce up Sisters Country

All summer long a crew of Sisters youths has been fanning out across Sisters Country to rehab damaged forestlands, shore up heavily used trails and remove noxious weeds, graffiti, and illegal structures on the land.

Last week, the Heart of Oregon Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (COYCC) crew comprised of Chelsea Bradley, Madison King, Megan Calarco, Gary Jacques and Anicka Hicks were in the forest south of town planting willows and cottonwoods along restored channels of Whychus Creek to improve the riparian habitat. On a previous visit, they laid down Idaho fescue.

"We try to give them a variety of projects," said Bob Hennings, Sisters Ranger District coordinator for the COYCC work.

While the work is obviously constructive, a lot of it requires demo work -which seemed to be the most popular type of project for the young forest stewards.

Asked about his favorite aspect of the work, Jacques said -"Breaking stuff."

He got an opportunity to break stuff that he himself had built. The crew took down an elaborate BMX course in the woods - one that Jacques had helped create a while back.

"Some naughty kids built one and we had to take it down," he said with a grin.

Megan Calarco said her favorite aspect of the job was "any time we worked with Mark McCracken."

McCraken is a field ranger with the Sisters Ranger District.

"He made the projects fun," Calarco said. "He didn't talk to us like we were kids. He treated us like ... another employee."

The COYCC foresters can earn $2,600 in wages over eight weeks, in addition to high school credit and the opportunity for scholarship funds.

The workers were drawn to the program for a chance to do physical work outdoors.

"I really wanted to work in the outdoors and I wanted to get some high school credits," Chelsea Bradley said. "I always like being outside. I grew up in the woods, practically."

The work is more appealing to them than many traditional teen summer jobs.

"I'd rather work here than in McDonald's or something," Jacques said.

Some are interested in the potential of a career in forest-related fields.

"I love biology," Anicka Hicks said. Ms. Gillespie, a student teacher in Rima Givot's Sisters High School biology program, recommended the program to her. The program was "beyond my expectations," Hicks said. "It's awesome."

Her favorite project was the Whychus Creek habitat restoration effort.

"I like working for animals and stuff," she said.

The COYCC participants work hard. They agreed that the most challenging aspect of the work was working in high heat with no shade in full PPE (personal protection equipment), which includes long pants, boots, a hard hat and reflective vest.

In the end, they get the satisfaction of many projects completed, leaving their homeland in better shape then they found it. And they have some money in their pockets, credits on their record - and for some a new sense of direction. Some COYCC participants go on to further education and careers in natural-resources fields. At the end of the program, they attend a College Engagement Day where they explore possible next steps.

And all of them come away with new-found teamwork skills and a sense of accomplishment.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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