Out Doors
by Elizabeth Bassett

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps

On a high ridge between Bolton and Moscow, while doing work on the Catamount Trail, we confronted a huge tree trunk splayed across the trail. A dozen volunteers toting handsaws, loppers and chain saws stopped and considered the blow-down.
“I’ll get it,” said a tall, 40-ish woman reaching for the power saw. Several of the men exchanged glances.
She tugged at the starter cord, revved the motor, leaned over and began to slice the tree like bologna. Her arms never slowed as the whining blade transformed the yellow birch into movable chunks. Within ten minutes the obstruction was history.
“You really know how to handle a saw!” one man said. “Do you heat with wood?”
“Nope. I spent a couple of summer in high school working for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.”
Wow. Message received.
It’s that time of year again, when I suggest gifts that will not clutter the house, deliver melamine from China, or need wrapping paper. Even as the economy sputters, consider a donation that is an investment in the people and beautiful places of Vermont.
After her junior year at CVU, Charlotte’s Bayley Lawrence worked for the VYCC. “I spent a hot July on a crew with ten teenagers, all under the age of 18. We built a dam in Jamaica, Vermont, constructing a rock wall to contain a wide, switchback trail. We were being paid what we thought was a lot of money for a month of hard labor, $1,000, minus taxes.”
Jamaica State Park is home to Ball Mountain Dam. The West River Trail climbs from the base of the dam to a hilltop with views of surrounding hills and distant towns. Bayley’s crew would improve this trail. “But first we had to learn to lay a rock wall.”
“Safety is a big concern for VYCC crews,” Bayley says. “We were handling large chunks of stone in 90-degree sun. The VYCC brought in an expert rock wall builder to teach us the mechanics and secrets of a sound wall. Before long the bald face of the dam evolved into a gorgeous, zigzagging rock wall. On our last day of work, sweaty and reeking after 28 days without a shower, we walked to the top and sat around a slab of stone. Our stone-setting mentor presented us with the fattest, greenest watermelon we had ever seen. He split it with an axe, and we filled our mouths with the cool, pink flesh. After weeks of eating trail mix and oatmeal, the cold fruit made us ecstatic.”
Summer crews are an intentional mix of college-bound and at-risk students. With few exceptions they spend the entire month camping in the field. VYCC’s Program Director Harry Frank says, “We take everyone out of their comfort zone. Even during summer the students have reading, writing, and journaling assignments. The result is team- and community-building as well as individual growth.”
CVU High School is one of five in the state that participates in VYCC’s school-based program for at-risk students. VYCC’s Frank is a former CVU Head of House. “I ran into CVU’s director of Special Education, David Blanchard, at the farmer’s market,” says Frank. “He had eight students whomhe felt were at risk of dropping out.” Last spring VYCC began a program at CVU, and the students stayed in school.
“There is a compelling financial picture for our school program,” Frank continues. “Every time a student drops out, the school loses a block grant. In the short term, keeping eight students at CVU allows the funding to continue. In the long term society benefits as high school graduates are more likely to be successful in life and work than those who drop out.”
Instead of spending all of their time in the classroom, VYCC students integrate their learning with outdoor work. Their coursework exists within the context of improving Vermont’s environment.
This fall, with two leaders from VYCC, the CVU students have worked on watershed conservation projects in Montpelier, cleared local Nordic ski trails, participated on land stewardship projects at the VYCC West Monitor Barn in Richmond, removed sumac around the East Monitor Barn, and planted cover crops in the garden. The students have also helped Maple Wind Farm harvest vegetables. Maple Wind Farm in Huntington is an educational partner of VYCC. VYCC swaps work on the farm for time on its ropes course, use of farm equipment and advice for productive vegetable growing. Through November the students will focus on drainage and erosion control work by constructing dips and water bars to minimize water damage on trails.
At-risk students stay in high school and integrate academics with hands-on skills. Summer corps members grow personally and learn teamwork while gaining an appreciation of the environment; their hands-on experience improves the outdoors for all of us. The land and recreation resources are enhanced, and Vermonters get paychecks. What’s not to like? Vermont Youth Conservation Corps headquarters are at the renovated West Monitor Barn, 1949 East Main Street, Richmond 05477; telephone 434-3969; vycc.org.
Gazing out past the dam into the forest, Bayley reflected, “I curled my hands inside my work gloves and felt new calluses on my palms. I knew I would go home changed forever. And I knew I would never take for granted a cold slice of melon.”