This week marked the official launch of the 2024 Youth Conservation Program (YCP)! This season is the eighteenth summer that the Foundation has partnered with Grand Teton National Park to enable teens to spend ten weeks improving park trails while gaining insight into conservation careers. We are pleased to welcome nineteen participants this year, the largest cohort since before the pandemic!
Monday began with a whirlwind of onboarding and getting everyone geared up. Thanks to Foundation supporters, the team was outfitted with a hiking pack, water bottles, hoodie, sun shirt, t-shirt, and hats. They also received hiking boots, hiking pants, and rain gear from a local gear shop and longtime supporter of YCP, Skinny Skis. The crew spent Monday afternoon completing hands-on training with a variety of tools, and then they hiked on a park trail to learn the basics of brushing and drain maintenance.
Tuesday was another training day led by two guest speakers. In the morning, Elizabeth Koutrelakos, former YCP crew leader and current mental health professional in Jackson, taught YCP about the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health. She facilitated a variety of activities that emphasized the importance of self-care and the care of those around you. It was a great message to share with the crew and set them up for a positive season.
YCP completed another engaging training session on Tuesday afternoon led by Dovetail Trails, an adaptive consultant that works with the park to make trails more accessible for users with a wide range of abilities. Joe Stone and Quinn Brett, the founders of Dovetail who are both wheelchair users, showed the group their adaptive equipment that allows them to travel greater distances on hiking trails. YCP hiked the Taggart Lake Loop while Joe and Quinn pointed out areas where small changes could be made that would create better access for folks using those devices. YCP leaders shared with the crew that they would be working on these minor adjustments throughout the season, and a significant part of the summer will involve taking these considerations into every project that YCP tackles with the goal of improving accessibility throughout Grand Teton.
On Thursday, after a day off on Wednesday in recognition of Juneteenth, YCP resumed tool training, this time with grubbing tools. The group went to a gravel pit to practice digging, chopping, and benching techniques. The YCP crew got some good experience to prepare for their return to Taggart Trail in the afternoon. YCP hiked back to the places that Joe and Quinn pointed out earlier in the week and began fixing and repairing trouble spots.
Later in the afternoon, YCP met with park leadership and Foundation staff and supporters at the Taggart Lake Trailhead. The crew enjoyed ice cream and shared details about their first week on the YCP crew.
We look forward to watching this motivated group’s impact unfold in Grand Teton throughout the next ten weeks!
