National Park Service: Youth Conservation Grant at Minute Man National Historical Park

OVERVIEW

Minute Man National Historical Park wishes to provide opportunities for career development and the participation of young adults in accomplishing resource management work. In order to develop the intern’s ability in his/her chosen field, the National Park Service will provide a meaningful assignment, an environment and opportunities to work with the visiting public that will further the student’s understanding of the real life application of his/her academic field of study. Community Crew participants will learn, through “hands on” experience, NPS and professional guidelines for rehabilitation and maintenance of historic agricultural fields, stone walls, and related areas within the national park. They will also have the opportunity to work with other youth crews, volunteers and NPS staff doing similar work.

The Community Crew will be working primarily in the Stow/Jones area of the park which has been farmed since the 1600’s. Today, many of its historical fields, stone walls and drainage ditches are overgrown with invasive trees, shrubs and vines. Walls have tumbled and ditches have filled in with soil and plants. In order to support agricultural activities again, overgrown plants must be removed from the historic fields. Walls must be cleared of destructive vegetation and ditches must be cleaned out to permit drainage of old fields. Work may also include livestock fence installation, thinning of hedgerows and general farming activities.

The Crew will have the opportunity to collaborate with park staff who are have knowledge and experience in historic landscape maintenance, environmental history and landscape architecture. In addition, crew members will be able to work with youth from a Groundwork Somerville crew as well as the Park’s non-profit agricultural partner – “Battle Road Farms” and perhaps assist in their farm activities. This work will result in the restoration of derelict farm fields and stone walls as well as of historic views which have been obscured by overgrown plants. The park has been unable to keep up with this kind of maintenance and the crew’s work will be highly visible in the community. The work will result in increased visitor understanding of the history of the beginning of the American Revolution and in increased visitor satisfaction with park facilities and resources.

The objective of this task agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities for young adults through collaborative participation in historic landscape rehabilitation and maintenance activities. The involvement of young adults in “hands on” rehabilitation activities illustrates the commitment of the NPS to the public purpose of education and to the development of responsible citizenship through community involvement and stewardship. These opportunities are valuable contributions to the agency’s effort to develop a diverse pool of potential entry-level employees for the NPS.

All of the work on this project will be done at the park, primarily outside in the Battle Road Unit of the park/Stow-Jones Area of Minute Man National Historical Park. A farm stand, other farm buildings and numerous historic structures are in the immediate area

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Appoint, place and maintain 2 qualified Project Leaders (including compensation, training and travel) for a period of 30 days – 6 weeks

2. Appoint and maintain 10 crew members, ages 15 – 18 years, for a period of 30 days – 6 weeks

3. Provide for transportation for the Crew Leaders and members in vans for the project duration.

4. Provide for hiring, compliance and evaluation as well as uniforms, tools, materials and equipment needed to complete the project.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

1. Provide general orientation to park operations and NPS mission.

2. Provide a NPS technical representative to be on-site with the SCA leader/crew to assist with specifics of the project as needed.

3. Provide meaningful assignments for the Community Crew in the area of historic agricultural field/landscape rehabilitation and maintenance and appropriate project oversight and direction.