Program brings together youths from all walks of life

A few weeks ago, Jake Cypret, 16, of Cape Girardeau couldn't have told you what turtle head roses looked like.

But on Thursday afternoon, he was busy planting them along the pond out by the new conservation nature center.

"They're small pink flowers," Cypret explained. "They attract humming birds, bees and butterflies."

Cypret is one of about a dozen youths in two groups working at Cape County Park North Thursday as part of the state's Youth Conservation Corps program.

The program was established in 2000 when the Missouri Legislature passed the Youth Service and Conservation Act.

The Missouri Department of Conservation often works with Division of Youth Services programs, meaning many, but not all, of the youths come from poor economic backgrounds.

The teenagers working out at the conservation grounds Thursday certainly were a mix of race, gender and backgrounds. Some were from the city; some from the country. But all of them were busy.

While one team planted around the pond, another one labored atop the hill, tearing down an old rock sign at the center. They pounded rocks with hammers like an old chain gang without the striped prison uniforms. Instead, they were dressed in T-shirts and khaki baseball caps that said "YCC" on them.

Clearing out trails

The Youth Conservation Corps groups, like the old Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, do all sorts of work. In Cape Girardeau, much of their time so far this year has been spent clearing out recreational trails through the county park's woods.

The area has seen a lot more visitors since the nature center opened this spring. The teenagers are building on that.

Each first-year worker makes $5.15 an hour for the first hour with the opportunity for a raise after a couple of weeks of supervised work. Second-year workers are paid a dollar more per hour. They work 40 hours per week for eight weeks.

"We learn how to work together," said Bobby Hastings, 15, of Cape Girardeau as he chipped cement off one of the landscaping rocks. "It's a good job to have for when you get older. This teaches you how it is in the real world."

Corey Schreckenberg, 19, is one of the older workers. He attends Southeast Missouri State University and he figures the summer job will prepare him for the job he wants to do when he leaves college -- a conservation agent.

Workers over the age of 17 who work more than 300 hours get a $1,000 scholarship.

Cypret said he didn't know about making a career out of conservation, but he does like working outside, he said, even though it does get hot.

"I just like the diversity," he said. "I like not knowing what you're going to do when you come in that day; I like not standing behind a counter somewhere."

The way the department of conservation sees it, the summer job serves as an educational experience, too. Not only does the state get work done, but the state gets the opportunity to teach conservation as well.

"We've seen all sorts of snakes and turtles and rabbits," Cypret said. "We know what kinds they all are and what to stay away from."

Schreckenberg said the job gives workers a new appreciation for the environment.

"When you have to plant plants and take care of the wilderness, it makes you respect it more," he said. "You think twice about litter and everything else."

bmiller@semissourian.com

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