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[From Fall 1998]
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) returned to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge this summer for the first time in at least ten years.
YCC 'Is a nationwide program which hires young adults between the ages of 15 and 18 who are interested in working in a conservation-related field. The eight week non-residential camp began for enrollees on June 29 and ended August 21. A group leader, Dana Dukes, was brought on board June 21 through August 29 to prepare, supervise, and wrap up the summer camp activities. Six youths from the local area enrolled in this year's camp. They were David Homa, Daryl Harris, Drew Heartley, Roshell Harmon, Shiloh Scott and Angie Wallop.
The YCC enrollees proved to be a hard-working crew which was able to accomplish a wide variety Of projects during the summer. As a beginning, they erected over 3/4 of a mile of dune fence to prevent sand from blowing across the Swan Cove bike trail. They moved from that project to several others, including fox squirrel and wood duck nest box maintenance, clearing vegetation from water control structures in refuge impoundments, and improving the Lighthouse Trail and adjacent area. They also cleaned refuge cemeteries, thinned crowded pine seedlings, organized storage areas, maintained refuge vehicles, and painted refuge sign posts. One of biggest jobs that the YCC crew tackled was the construction of a deck and handicap access ramp to a new refuge housing unit. The crew's efforts will be appreciated at the refuge for many years to come.
Karen Pacheco
Refuge Operations Specialist
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