Tribal Youth Corps programs at Grand Teton National Park bring new visitors into the park and turn them into advocates and stewards/Grand Teton National Park Foundation photos

Making connections with new generations is key to the future of national parks, and at Grand Teton National Park, the outreach includes working with teens from the nearby Wind River Reservation.

This summer, two crews of the new Tribal Youth Corps spent time in the park. Each crew of students spent three weeks working, learning, and recreating in the park, leaving with a greater understanding of what it takes to maintain and protect this stunning resource. The paid internship provides participants with new job skills and a better idea of potential careers within the National Park Service.

Both Tribal Youth Corps crews spent their terms maintaining Grand Teton’s cultural resources and trail system. Mormon Row, Hunter Hereford Ranch, Lucas Fabian Homestead, and Menor’s Ferry received some much-needed attention. While working on these historical treasures, students learned how to repair and replace various types of fencing, mitigate erosion and invasive species around buildings, and stabilize walls and structures.

Crew members also acquired skills in brushing corridors, building drains, and finishing tread on trails at Death Canyon, Taggart Lake, and Triangle X Ranch. Each Tribal Youth Corps participant contributed more than 120 hours to these projects, which the park would not have accomplished otherwise.

In addition to completing renewal tasks throughout Grand Teton, Tribal Youth Corps participants learned about different professional opportunities within the Park Service. Crew members completed a two-day archaeological survey in the Colter Bay area. They assisted park archaeologists by walking transects across the survey area and identifying and recording any prehistoric or historic material that they found. Interns also attended a science and resource management division meeting, which included introductions, program overviews, and safety protocols. Tribal Youth Corps members benefit from these opportunities by gaining a diversity of skills and experiences that will help them make future educational and career choices.

Although the main focus of this program is to provide a paid internship and job skills training for young American Indians, participants also get to spend their weekends taking advantage of outdoor recreation opportunities in Grand Teton National Park. Backpacking, boating, and camping are just some of the many adventures these teens get to experience during their time off.

The Grand Teton National Park Foundation thanks all of the Tribal Youth Corps participants and partners — Grand Teton National Park and Montana Conservation Corps — for helping make the 2017 program a success.

Want to learn more about this program and support next year’s Tribal Youth Corps? Visit the Grand Teton National Park Foundation website.