DOVER, TN – The Fort Donelson National Battlefield is recruiting regional youth to take part in this year’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program this summer. The combination youth employment and education program has been an annual part of park operations for more than three decades.
The benefits of the YCC program are numerous. Youth are provided the opportunity to work on one of America’s most treasured and hallowed grounds, providing a hands-on contribution toward the preservation and care of battlefield resources.
According to Fort Donelson Superintendent Brian McCutchen, “YCC interns are building both personal and professional experience, revealing character, and developing interests that might open one’s eyes to new post-graduation career goals. Several of the Fort Donelson-region’s business and community leaders served as YCC interns in their youth and strongly encourage the continuation of this beneficial program, for regional youth to apply
For 2018, Fort Donelson YCC members will be working on numerous projects that may range from repairing sections of the national park’s many miles of trails, to preserving historic tablets, to opening up historic battlefield landscape, to laying sod in the Fort Donelson National Cemetery.
The summer YCC program is conducted for 8-10 weeks from the end of May until school resumes in August. Participants must be between 15 and 18 years of age at the start of the program.
Applications and information will be available at both the Stewart County Visitor Center (117 Visitor Center Drive, Dover) and the Fort Donelson National Cemetery Lodge (174 National Cemetery Drive, Dover), beginning Friday, February 9th, 2018.
Completed applications should be submitted at the Fort Donelson National Cemetery lodge by 4:30pm, Friday, March 23rd, 2018. Applications may also be mailed to: Fort Donelson NB, Attn: YCC, PO Box 434, Dover, TN 37058.
A public drawing will be held on Wednesday, March 28th 2018 at 3:30 pm at the Stewart County Visitor Center Cumberland Room where the YCC applicants will be randomly selected. Applicants are encouraged to attend, but not required to be present in order to be selected for participation in this year’s program.
