Those of you that read my blogs and stories know I really love my job and one of the better parts of my experiences is getting to work with volunteers and staff. 

Girl Power is so awesome

Recently I had the chance to sit down with the Virginia State Park’s Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) that was stationed at Westmoreland State Park.

This all-girl team is working there for three weeks during one of the hottest summers on record. The courageous girls are not only dealing with the humidity but also a yellow jacket invasion at the paddle-in primitive campsite where they were installing an accessible feature to a tent pad. The yellow jackets became so aggressive park management decided to delay the project for the safety of the team and move them to another project.

They even made their own Yellow Jacket traps

On one of those extremely hot and muggy days, I made the team come into the park’s visitor center to cool off for a while so we could talk and Rob Hedelt from the Fredericksburg FreeLance Star could interview some of them for his column.

I started out asking questions about how they were doing, coping with the challenges and if they liked being in the YCC so far? They readily answered my questions and were quite enthusiastic. All seemed to be enjoying the program and getting to know one another.

My conversations got a little more in-depth with the girls that were sitting closer to me and I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable exchanges I have had in a while. 

The girls shared openly about their dreams, their fears, theirs plans for the future, their families and homes. I especially loved to hear some of them talk about their mothers and how beautiful they thought they were but just wished their moms thought so too. How their dads are so funny and made them laugh!

We had a more serious conversation about accepting ourselves for who we are and not what we look like.

I learned that some girls played musical instruments, some could draw, some could not, some loved writing and some did not. I even found out they gave the hand tools they were using funny names. Like Chopper Offers (loppers) Fickle Floppers (swing blade) and Chigga Chiggas (hand saw). Simply hysterical and fun and I did a lot of laughing that day.

I asked them how they were doing being “unplugged” from the internet and their cell phones. They said it was kind of nice and were actually not having a hard time with it at all. Instead of having their faces stuck in the phone they were having real conversations will real people. And, they were taking note of the environment around them. 

Here they are working hard on paddle-in site at Westmoreland State Park

So if you think the YCC is just about getting projects done in the state parks, you will be surprised as it is also about learning, teaching, forming life long bonds and friendships. Growing as individuals and learning to work together as a team.

Adventure is part of the program too as team members get to hike, kayak and participant in educational programs offered by the park. We feel it is important for team members to learn about the communities near the state park in which they are working so we make sure they go to museums and historical sites.  And yes, they work very hard and get projects done in the state parks.

I am very proud to be a part of such an outstanding program and look forward to seeing the young men and women every summer.

We often hear parents say how much the program has positively influenced the lives of their children.  I am so thankful for the amazing crew leaders that are in charge of the crew members for the entire three weeks. They do an incredible job taking care of the teens and work just as hard side by side with team members as well as taking care of all the logistical challenges. Kudos to the team leaders.  

Westmoreland State Park's outstanding YCC Supervisors

So I call them super girls, both crew leaders and crew, because I am so impressed with them, the hard work they do, their intelligence, their sprit and their perseverance.  They are amazing young women, great job to the parents who raised them. 

The Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps in an award winning program that takes place over the summer each year. Crew applications generally open up January and closes March. Crew Leader/ supervisor applications usually open up in the fall of the previous year. Please click here for more information and qualifications, or call 804-625-3984, email here. Start planning for next year if you would like to participate, or think you know someone who may benefit from this amazing opportunity in 2017.

There is a promise of a sunset on the Potomac River at the end of every day

Westmoreland State Park is located on the Potomac River near the historic town of Montross Virginia.  For more information on the park click here or call (804) 493-8821. 

WELL DONE SUPER GIRLS!