Summer Youth Corps kicks off summer program

Summer Youth Corps kicks off summer program

A new base camp isn’t the only change in our Summer Youth Corps this year. For the first time, youth will serve in one of two 4-week sessions instead of one 8-week session, giving more youth a summer Conservation Corps experience. The first session began Saturday, June 9, as youth and their families gathered at our Central office and the new camp to check in and get started on their adventure.

After the state shutdown and windstorms last July forced us out of our longtime base camp at St. Croix State Park, we found a new ‘home’ at Ojiketa Regional Park where youth convene for training, a mid-session break and session-end banquet. Youth will spend most of their term spike camping at project sites. The first sessions runs through July 14 and the second from July 21 to August 17.

Special thanks to Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Metro Sales for sponsoring youth!

First-session Summer Youth Corps crews. On left, from left: Sam Kilpatrick, Matt Trumper (Nina will double-check on him.), O’Nell Yalartai, Luke Dovre, Gabe Korinek, Vincente Cisneros, Ethan Carr and Kevin Buckhalton; On right, from front: Na King Xiong, Kelsey Aasness, Margret Krueger, Shariah White, Anna Jefferson, Alicia Olness and Dakota Faust.