Use the Great American Outdoors Act to Put Young People to Work
By partnering with conservation corps, resource managers can complete work efficiently and create work opportunities for young adults
Here’s one way to scale-up a modern Civilian Conservation Corps.
The president recently signed the most significant legislation for our public lands in decades. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) establishes sustainable funding to address the $20 billion maintenance backlog on our federal lands and complete much-needed improvement projects on other lands across the country. Over the coming years, our parks will see billions of dollars. It will soon be time to get to work.
As the COVID-19 economic downturn continues, outdoor infrastructure projects can create much-needed jobs. Young workers have been especially hit hard by recent layoffs, with teens and young adults experiencing unemployment rates roughly double the national average. To benefit the outdoors and our young people, land managers should prioritize engaging conservation corps to complete projects made possible by the GAOA.
Current economic conditions have spurred calls to revive the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), President Franklin Roosevelt’s job program that put 3 million young men to work outdoors. A “21st-century CCC” is a great idea. Fortunately, we don’t need to start a new CCC from scratch; an effective, contemporary version already exists.
Modern Corps already exist.
There are some 200 conservation corps programs across the country, operated by nonprofits and state and local governments. These programs annually engage more than 25,000 diverse young people and post-9/11 veterans in conservation projects and job training. When there are more project opportunities, corps can enroll more participants.
It is common for resource management agencies to engage in public-private partnerships to complete work. Corps are a trusted partner for many agencies: over the last three years, conservation corps completed nearly $600 million in projects for federal, state, and local resource managers. In 2019 alone, corps restored over 1.4 million acres of habitat, rid 19,400 acres of wildfire fuels, and improved over 13,000 miles of trails. Through this work, thousands of young people earned money, learned job skills, and experienced the outdoors.
There are numerous reasons resource managers should prioritize contracting corps. First, corps partnerships expand the capacity of our park agencies, allowing projects to be completed sooner. Considering outdoor recreation is on the rise, as evidenced by surging demand for equipment like boats, RVs, and bicycles, addressing the backlog quickly can help prevent further damage to our parks.
Corps partnerships are not only time-efficient, but cost-efficient: a study commissioned by the National Park Service found, on average, corps helped the agency save over 60 percent on project expenses.
A new generation of stewards and leaders.
Importantly, engaging corps would have far-reaching effects for young workers, who could face competitive challenges in a recovering job market. Corps offer a stipend, hands-on work experience, and the opportunity to earn certifications to build a résumé for the multi-billion-dollar outdoor economy. Many corps participants also qualify for AmeriCorps Education Awards.
It’s critical to note that the original CCC had flaws. Though it helped reduce unemployment to under 10 percent and built infrastructure still used today, the program did not engage women and failed to provide equal opportunities to people of color. Unlike the CCC, which operated out of residential camps managed by the federal government, modern corps are grounded in communities and responsive to local needs. Modern corps strive to promote equity and inclusion. In fact, to help reach a diverse applicant pool, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service recruit interns and staff through corps.
Corps and park managers can and should work together to help direct work opportunities to young people in communities of color where COVID-19 has exacerbated health and economic disparities. These are also many of the same communities that lack access to nature. Among other provisions, the GAOA dedicates $900 million annually for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a significant support for state and local park projects. These dollars should first go to communities where parks and too many other resources have been chronically underfunded.
By partnering with America’s network of conservation corps on projects made possible by the GAOA, park managers can do much more than fix trails and upgrade campgrounds. We can invest in the future for thousands of young workers.
