GREEN BAY — Twin Lakes State Park is hosting a crew of Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps now through July 11. The crew is all female with three supervisors, one intern and 12 crewmembers.  This is a three-week residential program and the crew will live at Twin Lakes State Park.

The YCC program engages Virginia’s youth in a structured program of important conservation and park projects on public lands while providing learning that fosters teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

Youth Corps projects are visible, tangible and meaningful. The project for this crew is mainly trail restoration and construction, storm clean up from recent windstorms, painting of several park buildings and building a large low impact pad at a picnic shelter. But it’s not all work and no play. The program also includes time for environmental education and adventure programming. The crew will visit the Moton Museum, Sandy River Outdoor Adventure Park, and other state parks in the Central region.

Crews typically have 10 members, ages 14-17, from diverse backgrounds. The crew is closely supervised by three crew supervisors who are graduates of the program themselves, professional park staff and committed adult volunteers.

The Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps Program was honored with the United States Department of the Interior’s Outstanding State Volunteer program award in 2010. The Take Pride in America award cited the YCC’s “…outstanding commitment to the stewardship of America’s public lands and natural and cultural resources.”