American Youth Works, Texas
American YouthWorks (AYW) is an Austin, Texas-based organization noted for both technical skills and a statewide reach. Through its Environmental Corps (“E-Corps”) young people contribute to the restoration and preservation of parks and public lands in Texas. A high level of experience enables staff to train crews in taking on many different kinds of resource and recreation work. Other American YouthWorks efforts include a charter high school and the Casa Verde home-building program. Recreational Trails Program grants through the Texas are increasingly important during a transition from AmeriCorps funding.
Developing Skills
Skilled crews able to work on many different kinds of projects are the key resource of AYW. As the types of project work evolves, it is even more important to increase technical abilities of the workforce. By retaining staff members for several years an institutional memory of technical skills has been developed. However, experienced staff leave from time to time, and their skills are hard to replace.
One strategy is to develop training opportunities with outside partners. Big Bend National Park, with its professional trail crew, has enabled AYW staff to attend training in rockwork, rigging, and other skills that require intensive experience.
The focus on training and technical abilities enables AYW crews to work on projects throughout Texas that provide more interest and educational value. Work done by the crews has included the following initiatives:
» Woodlands restoration and invasive plant control was completed with the Town Lake Trail Foundation Healthy Trees for the Trail program.
» At Westcave Preserve, crews built paths covered with limestone slabs that allow for natural seep drainage as well as run-off control, stone steps built into steep inclines, and sturdy handrails.
» At Lake Possum Kingdom Fish Hatchery, 24 corpsmembers built a crushed rock trail, complete with hand-carved rocks to replicate the stonework of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
» Crews also build structures that enhance trails, parks, and fishing and boating access, including information kiosks, benches, archways and gates, docks, and shade covers.
Community Projects
American YouthWorks has been able to partner with towns, cities, and counties in planning cost-effective projects. In recent years, many communities have been preserving open space as well as developed parkland. Trails provide a low cost way of enabling the public to enjoy the outdoors, while channeling use to appropriate areas. AYW has built many miles of trails in community settings for local governments.
One example is a project done with Southwest Keys, a nonprofit with services provided to low-income families and youth. Knowing about the AYW trail building group, Southwest Keys asked for help in building a trail at their new facility in east Austin. AYW determined that the project would cost $52,000, and helped with grant writing, and project planning and management. AYW crews performed a variety of work on the project, installing walls, bridges, and accessible crushed rock trail surfacing. AYW brought in subcontractors to deliver materials and do mechanized site preparation. Matching funds were in the form of in-kind services from both AYW and Southwest Keys.
AYW identified areas of the site with natural history and habitat value while staff at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center helped with environmental education programming. The finished trail, nearly a mile long, is used for health and exercise classes, nature study, and other ways to engage youth and the community. The trail work was completely funded with RTP money.
Project Funding
RTP funds are administered by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). For 2008, TPWD approved a record $5.3-million in federal funding for National Recreational Trail Grant projects. A number of projects funded in previous years were completed under budget and two large projects were cancelled, making nearly $1.6 million available for re-allocation. TPWD planned to use about 10 percent of the total for trail improvements in 10 state parks, with the rest allocated to 30 trail construction projects sponsored by communities and organizations.
AYW does not normally apply directly for RTP grants, but develops partnerships with municipal governments, or with state or federal agencies, which act as project sponsors. AYW can then invoice the project sponsor for the full cost of the crews, about $700 per day, which includes tools, transportation, training, insurance, safety equipment, meals, etc. The State reimburses the project sponsor, which pays the invoiced amount from AYW, covers its own costs, and documents the matching funds or contributions.
As to cities, counties, schools, and organizations, AYW is essentially entering into a fee-for-service contract. This contracted work helps these land managers with habitat improvement, firebreak construction, and invasive plant control, as well as trails and recreation facilities. Crews also bring a long-time interest in conservation of land and wildlife, and their work helps foster public attention to these issues.
Opportunities with State Parks
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has also provided many opportunities for the youth crews through projects on its state parks system. This work provides an excellent variety of experiences due to the diversity of geography and habitat represented among the parks. For example, Huntsville State Park in east Texas is sandy as well as swampy, creating a challenge for trail development. AYW crews built over 600 feet of raised boardwalk trails, and planned several years of projects to build turnpike sections as well as reroute poorly located trails. At Franklin Mountains State Park, there is typically a lot of rockwork. Crews built an emergency escape trail for the Wyler Tramway, and a new ridgeline trail that gives visitors an opportunity to reach a mountain summit.
The 2008 pilot project with AYW is expected to be the model for future projects. Ten State park projects are being funded as a package rather than requiring individual grant applications. The State can contract directly with nonprofit groups for certain kinds of work without going out for bid. Citing RTP guidance specifically encouraging youth and conservation corps, the State is applying $360,000 in RTP funds for this work. An additional $90,000 in state funds provides the required 20 percent match. Volunteers are often invited to work with corps members, providing additional labor while learning new skills.
Benefits
For American YouthWorks, the Recreational Trails Program projects have allowed it to employ young people beyond the AmeriCorps funding. Projects bring together both college graduates and youth who are seeking a new start. With skilled supervision, both groups learn from each other’s life experiences. The variety of work helps them explore career ideas in the field of conservation and park management. It has been common for youth with AYW experience to be hired by several of the land management agencies.
For Texas State Parks, as well as for community recreation managers, the AYW’s skilled staff can help develop appropriate projects based on available land and resources. With few qualified contractors for trail work in Texas, AYW provides an important service. There are “Friends of the Park” groups at several of the project sites. AYW provides training for these volunteers to raise the level of future trail maintenance. Nurturing a commitment to stewardship for the parks will be a long-term benefit.
Key Points and Lessons Learned
» In states without a lot of federal public land, local communities are the providers of much of the outdoor recreation facilities.
» In Texas, RTP provides over $3.7 million annually, the largest source of funds for trail construction and improvements.
» Funding opportunities, both federal and state, can change abruptly; corps and other grantees need to understand the issues and have options available.
» Plan work experience with careers in mind; corpsmembers gain marketable work skills if given the right training and encouragement.
» To get projects moving quickly, schedule improvements to existing trails; projects needing environmental clearances can be planned for future years.
For More Information, contact:
American YouthWorks, Austin, TX
216 E 4th St., Austin TX 78701
(512) 236-6100
www.americanyouthworks.org
