Congratulations 2009/2010 YouthBuild Corpsmembers!

This morning Mile High Youth Corps 2009/2010 YouthBuild Corpsmembers graduated from the program and celebrated their nine months of successes. MHYC staff, friends and family gathered to congratulate the Corpsmembers who have spent the last nine months working toward completing their GEDs and learning green construction skills.

Thanks to all the friends, family and children who helped support and motivate the Corpsmembers today and throughout their YouthBuild terms.

Some of the people who helped make this YouthBuild term a great success were recognized including Outstanding Youth Advocate Dr. Sarah E. Burgamy (MHYC counselor), Outstanding Community Partner Lynne Picard (Denver Housing Authority) and Outstanding Employer Partner Angie Rubeck (MTech Mechanical Technologies Group). Shown above with Dr. Kelly Causey, MHYC Executive Director.

Three exceptional YB Corpsmembers spoke at the graduation including sisters Alanis Chambers and Nikheimia Hale-Chambers and Sazian Reid (shown above).

This has been a great year and we wish all the 2009/2010 YouthBuild Corpsmembers the best as thier doors as Corpsmembers close and they venture into their next journey.

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Just Another Day at the Office

No laptops or fax machines for Mile High Youth Corps’ Summer of Service Corpsmembers — they’re offices consist of breathtaking views of mountains and wildlife. In the photo above, Summer of Service Hayman Corpsmember Margaret Page takes in the beautiful view at Pike National Forest where her crew has been working all Summer.

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Life Thus Far on the Energy Crew

So I’m finally dishin’ this blog out, but hey, two String Cheese Incident shows down, one to go – it’s been a busy weekend! Maybe my work ethic/integrity hasn’t improved much (yet) but my environmental awareness has become very prevalent in my day to day life. From the get-go, this job in Mile High Youth Corps’ Energy Conservation Program felt important, like there was the potential for great change, hopefully some eventual revision of old institutions, old ideas and ways of life. At the same time, I hope for a revert to the old ways of the Anasazi and other Native Americans, the first environmentalists.

First off, there were at least two times when I was training in the warehouse that I thought of buzzin’ off my dreads – so hot! But there’s been so many payoffs for the heat. Apparently Bob doesn’t usually train, so we were lucky. After going over every aspect of CFLs (compact florescent light bulbs) and drugs, dogs and guns, we got to see a presentation put together by a nice man from Denver Water. He seemed up-front and transparent and I learned a lot and feel good about the state of our state’s water.

Richard, Becky, Jesse, Becca, Jovanna, Bill, Kelly, Rueben — you all rock. And if I didn’t list you, you still rock. All the leaders, seniors and returning Corpsmembers have been so accommodating, which has made the intake of knowledge multifaceted and from all sides. You’ve all done so much and I’m sure you’re role models to many.

Once we got our MHYC uniforms, we also got down to business. Canvassing that is. Getting out there and actually doing things has been sweet, but the real reward is around the bend once we begin energy retrofits in low-income homes and nonprofit organizations. Canvassing has also served as great one-on-one times with my fellow Energy Conservation Corpsmembers. The movie “Flow” that we watched was awesome, and I want to show it to everyone I know. “Water Canyon” was also very sick. Hope everyone’s doing well, can’t wait to see what’s next.

Peace.

-Levi Dueter, Energy Conservation Corpsmember

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Hayman: 2002 & 2010

When I heard Mile High Youth Corps would have a crew working in the Hayman Burn Area this summer and fall, I was very supportive and enthusiastic. My enthusiasm stemmed from my recent memory of this enormous fire. It seems like yesterday that Denver had orange hued skies, I closed down the pool where I was lifeguarding because of falling ash, and watched the fire blazing from Cranmer Park near the Cherry Creek Mall in the evenings.

In contrast to the summer of 2002, when Governor Bill Owens said “all of Colorado is burning”; this summer, it is great to see MHYC Corpsmembers hard at work restoring the burn area to be usable recreation space once again. Instead of passively watching the news of devastation and feeling like there is nothing I can do to help, as I did in 2002, I am happy to feel like I can make a difference this year by helping to recruit young adults to serve on our Hayman crew for the fall.

2002: “It looked, honest to God, what I picture Hiroshima must have looked like,” Sherrie Muldoon said.

2010: MHYC Corpsmembers build new trail

2002: The Hayman burned the forest floor and blackened virtually every tree

2010: Corpsmembers use sawyer skills for fire fuel mitigation work

Hayman: The final facts
From the Rocky Mountain News

Started: June 8, 2002. Reported by U.S. Forest Service worker Terry L. Barton at 4 p.m.

Where: About 8 miles northwest of Lake George in the Pike National Forest in a campfire ring.

Named for: A mining ghost town near Tappan Gulch.

Total size: 137,000 acres, equivalent to 214 square miles, or the size of Denver and Boulder combined.

Estimated date of containment: Today at 6 p.m., the 21st day of the fire.

Cause: Illegal campfire, allegedly started by Barton, 38, who has been arrested and faces four felony counts that could result in 17 years in prison.

Structures lost: 133 homes; 1 commercial building; 484 outbuildings.

People evacuated: Nearly 8,000.

Personnel assigned: 2,564 firefighters at the peak of the fire.

Cost to date: $27.8 million; could reach $52 million.

2010: Contribute to Hayman restoration efforts as a Fall Land Conservation Camping Corpsmember. Apply online or contact Alexandra (alexandral@mhyc.org) for more information.

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MHYC Now Hiring for YouthBuild Program

Know anyone 18-to 24 years old in need of their GED? Send them to Mile High Youth Corps!

MHYC is currently hiring for our YouthBuild Program. The nine month program offers participants, called Corpsmembers, the opportunity to divide their time equally between the classroom to earn their GEDs and the work site to gain construction skills.

Position Dates: September 13th 2010 – May 27th 2011

Requirements:

• 18 – to 24 years old
• Does not have a HS Diploma or GED
• Must be able to pass a drug screen
• Background check required, but will not necessarily exclude applicants
• Must be eligible to work within the United States

The program begins with a month-long orientation called “Mental Toughness” in which prospective Corpsmembers can get a taste of what the daily experience of a life as YouthBuild Corpsmember will be like and are paid a training wage of $6.00 an hour. Following Mental Toughness Orientation, those hired into the program will receive $7.28/hour and are eligible for raises based on attendance and performance.

Apply Today!

In Person: 695 Canosa Ct., Building A
Online: http://www.milehighyouthcorps.org
Questions? Call: 303.433.1206, opt. 1, ext. 325 or Email: youthjobs@mhyc.net

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From Field to Office

Last Summer Roni found herself in a forest of Russian Olive Trees.

Last summer: chain saws. This summer: chain emails.
Last summer: member of a crew. This summer: member of an office.
Last summer: passenger seat in vans. This summer: driver seat in Aveos.
Last summer: Vanessa and Steve. This summer: Vanessa and Steve.
Last summer: leather work boots. This summer: computer reboots.
Last summer: cuts from Russian Olive thorns. This summer: cuts from paper.
Last summer: A*C (AmeriCorps). This summer: AC (air conditioning)
Last summer: Katie. This summer: Christy.
Last summer: wood chipper. This summer: paper shredder.

This Summer Roni finds herself in a forest of paper work.

The differences between my two summers at MHYC are clear. Last summer I was a member of the TrailBlazer crew, and spent my time helping to remove an invasive species of trees. This summer I came back as a support corpsmember in the office. Both positions offered their unique challenges and learning opportunities which have helped me to develop various skills and continue to grow as a person.

Working in the office this year has given me a better idea of what MHYC as an agency is really about, as well as the amount of work that goes in behind the scenes to make the Summer of Service Program happen. I have my office duties, as well as my field duties. So I am not in the office behind a desk all day, I also get to interact with Corpsmembers here at Canosa in the mornings as well as out in the field. I do weekly site visits to the crews, taking pictures, flip videos, and bring them treats. In the office, I have done everything from payroll to preparing for orientation to hiring for our fall crews.

Last Summer Roni took a moment to bond with fellow Summer of Service Trailblazer Corpsmembers.

My second term of service at MHYC has been an awesome way to spend my summer. I am not only back working at a place that I love and have gained so much from, but also getting new experiences and gaining a whole new skill set.

-Veronicca Solis, 2010 Summer of Service Support Corpsmember

This Summer Roni took a moment to check out the amazing view while visiting the Hayman Camping Crew in Pike National Forest with Alumni Mentors Steve and Vanessa.

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MHYC at Golden Gate State Park

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Photos from the Springs

CO Springs crew visits Brent's Old Fort in La Junta -- and they are glad they're not using these old-fashioned saws for the job!

CO Springs Day Crew poses after removing an illegal fire pit from Red Rocks Open Space in El Paso County.

CO Springs Day Crew (modeling their new MHYC Springs-specific uniforms) doing trail maintenance at Bear Creek Regional Park in El Paso County.

CO Springs Sawyers get their feet wet removing Tamarisk at Pueblo reservoir.

CO Springs Camping Crew puts in a new trail at the canyon at Apishapa State Wildlife Area east of Walensburg.

What does the CO Springs Day Crew do when they're not working? Hang out!

CO Springs Day Crew Corpsmembers Zach Alexander, Madison Kerr and Janari McCambel take a break to clown for the camera.

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Rock Work 101

So, on Tuseday, July 13th, me and Juan ended up doing rock work. What we did was dig an in-slope – where you make about a 45 degree angle going in towards the trail instead of digging an angle away from the trail – on the critical edge so we could fit the rocks we used to fill the gaps behind the rocks.

After we got the in-slope accomplished, we had to figure out how to look at the rocks and connect the two so there was no gap and looked natural from the front. On the back, it’s ok for there to be a gap because we can always fill the hole with rocks.

When you are doing rock work you need a really good idea on how the rocks are shaped and how they will fit – it’s like a big puzzle where all the pieces don’t fit perfectly together but, with a little work, they fit.

After we got a good idea of how the rocks would fit together and how they would sit in the in-slope we did a controlled roll down the hill. What a controlled roll is, is when you roll the rock down a hill but you control it, as in you roll the rock downhill and stop it from getting out of control and picking up speed. You put all your body weight on it after the flip and it stops the roll.

We rolled the rocks down the hill and to the in-slope. When we got them there, we had to use rock bars to adjust how the rocks would fit together and get kicker rocks behind the rock and under it so their was room to put rock fill in behind and under the rock so it will stay in the same place for a long period of time. We also put rock fill in so that when it rains and it freezes (since water expands when frozen) it will have less chance of destroying the trail and knocking the rocks outta place.

After we put the kicker rocks we put the rock fill in and covered them with dirt so it looked like the trail formed on top of it. We tamped the ground down and put some duff on the edge. Duff is the top layer of pine’s and black dirt that is on top of the mineral soil. After we sprinkled the duff, we were done. It took a lot of hard work but after we could see the before and after, and it looked amazing. Looks as if it has been there for years and will last for years too come.

-Delfino Tolentino, Pathfinders Summer of Service Corpsmember

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Welcome New Corpsmembers

Yesterday 17 new and 6 returning Water and Energy Conservation Corpsmembers joined us for orientation. They’ve been busy doing teambuilding activities and learning the ins and outs of life as a Corpsmember at Mile High Youth Corps.

We’re so excited to have you all here and can’t wait to see the great work you’ll do in your next five months of service!

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