Updates & Stories

Snag removal work on the river can be – and usually is – unpredictable. Snags come in all shapes and sizes from an easy single cut to a complex three-hour job. A five-mile stretch may be completely clear and take no more than an hour to paddle. On the other hand there is the possibility of only having a half-mile stretch cleared for an entire day's effort. Many days we don't know which one we're getting until we are on the water, which requires us to be flexible and adapt to ever-changing plans and timelines.  Read More

I joined the Conservation Corps to refresh my body, soul and mind because I felt like a car that wouldn’t start. As a new part-timer in the Polk County crew, I am confident that through working with the Corps, I will receive a new battery to light my ignition. Today I had a close call that nearly lost me that opportunity. Read More

As you're walking down George Street in Saint Paul there are a few things you may notice. First, a bridge that goes over Robert Street with a very strange four-way stop system. Push ahead, you might stop by the charming little Riverview Branch Library and take in their welcome flora setup by the stairs. WAIT! This is not your final destination; keep going.  Read More

Spring is coming to an end and the extreme temperatures of the summer are approaching fast, but with the change of seasons comes a new variety of projects for the National Park Service and our NPS Roving crew. Read More

I don’t know much about great blue herons, but I do know that they are cool, amazing birds.Last week my crew [YO2] was sent to Lake Phalen to pull the well-known invasive garlic mustard and repair some fencing along the lakeshore. As we made our way along the western side of the lake, we saw countless red-winged blackbirds darting aggressively through the air. Occasionally we would see a cormorant flying across the water or diving for fish, but what really caught my attention was the slow, silent flight of great blue herons overhead.  Read More

To culminate their 11-week service term, participants in the Youth Outdoors program design and implement service projects in communities where they serve.  Read More

Eleven days. To the average American, it doesn’t seem like much time; most of our vacations are longer. To our five-person Conservation Corps crew, spending this much time on the job away from home seemed impossible… until we were called onto our first wildfire. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon when we were all shaken out of our sunshine stupor and clamored into our Corps truck to head up north, where we were expecting a roaring blaze that just couldn’t be controlled without our help. Read More

A thick grey and white bulwark of aspen stems stood firmly before us. In the weak April morning light, the thick stand of trees appeared impenetrable; the wind whispered their claim to the acres of land before us. I certainly couldn’t argue about their dominion over this landscape, but when working for the Corps it is best to be inclined to audacity not doubt.  Read More

What started as an awkward gaggle of young men, quiet, withdrawn and quirky, unsure of what lay ahead of them, quickly turned into a friendly yet hardened fire-fighting, saw-curd-chewing, dedicated force to be reckoned with.   Read More

One of the largest problems in urban areas is dealing with stormwater. The excessive amount of concrete in urban areas means that water is unable to flow directly into the ground. In fact, even your front lawn will produce runoff because the dense grass and root systems do not allow for much water to actually soak in. Because of this we have storm drains that direct water out of the streets and out of sight as quickly as possible. Read More