Project partner Craig Young of National Park Service selected as a 21CSC champion of the year
by Rachel Wagner, Development & Communications Specialist
Photo credit: The Corps Network and 21st Century Conservation Service Corps
Craig Young has recently been named as a 21CSC Champion of the Year for 2019. This award recognizes individuals from agencies and organizations that partner with 21CSC programs to help engage the next generation of conservation and community leaders in service, education and training.
Craig is a Terrestrial Program Leader for the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network at the National Park Service (NPS). He’s also a project partner of Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa working closely with our Iowa program staff. Here’s what Iowa Program Manager Mark Wilson had to say:
“Craig Young has been a fantastic project partner through his position with the National Park Service – Heartland Network Exotic Plant Management Team. Since 2010 he and his team have trained and worked alongside over 200 AmeriCorps members. He’s also chosen to host a dedicated crew for all the National Park Service sites in the Heartland Network and with his guidance many of these smaller NPS parks have been able to receive much needed ecosystem management that they would not have otherwise received. His dedication and passion for service has provided for an abundance of opportunities for our members and we extremely grateful for his continued partnership.”
In a Q & A with 21st Century Conservation Corps, Craig Young explained how his initial view of Conservation Corps has expanded beyond thinking of the Corps as a service provider. Craig said, “I now see Corps as able to form hard-working teams of young adults from many different educational and personal backgrounds. The experiences of working with land managers in national parks prepares members for numerous, yet unknown paths. All of this happens while meeting the objectives of important conservation projects on federal lands. This is a win-win.”
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is fortunate to have dedicated and passionate project partners like Craig. As Mark Wilson said, “There’s no one more deserving of receiving this award!”
The 2019 honorees will be recognized in Washington, DC during the annual meeting of the partnership for the 21CSC, part of The Corps Network 2019 National Conference.
Learn more about the 21CSC Champion of the Year Award – Click here.
Read a Q&A with Craig Young and 21CSC – Click here
Learn more about Craig – Click here.
Read The Corps Network’s press release – Click here.