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Okanogan SKY
Peak Creek Bridge Project Summer 2004
Letter from Mark Morris, Tonasket District Ranger, USFS to Jim Weed, PNTA Regional Coordinator, Pasayten Region.
"Thank you and the SKY team for all of their hard work on Tonasket. This is really paying off!! I don't know if Andy shared with you, but when I went in the 14 mile trail to visit his group I came across a horseman from the Quincy area who had just had a big horse wreck on the trail due to down logs. He was attempting to ride around the logs and his pack horse got hung up and went over backwards. He gave up on the trip and camped at 14 mile for 2 days until your crew finished logging out the trial. The work your crew does is more than "nice to do"! They are making the trail safe for the public and reducing the risk of serious injury to both people and horses. In addition the water bar work helps reduce soil erosion.
So a big "thank you" from Tonasket District!"
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SKY program: Agencies unite to create summer trail jobs for local youth
Article used with permission by Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune
NORTH COUNTY – Local students are working to provide trail and rangeland maintenance this summer through a state, federal and county partnership. The SKY program, hosted by the Tonasket School District, has youth from Tonasket and Oroville accomplishing much needed projects and learning about natural resources.
The partnership was formed between the U. S. Forest Service, Washington State WorkSource, Okanogan County, the Tonasket and Oroville School Districts, the state Department of Natural Resources, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association and the Okanogan Valley Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen. Summer jobs were created for local students as a Trail and Rangeland maintenance Crew. The program originated as the SKY program of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association.
The program included youth from Tonasket and Oroville School Districts. SKY (Service Knowledge Youth) was founded as a collaboration between the school district and private partners to provide high school students with an outdoor-based work experience blended with academic instruction, said Jim Weed, local Pasayten Regional Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Trail Association.
“SKY teaches job skills, teamwork and stewardship of public lands while providing an opportunity to earn academic credit through a combination of classroom activities, conservation projects and outdoor experiences. By working on a variety of outdoor projects, SKY participants take responsibility and gain leadership skills by applying knowledge and teamwork toward solving real-life problems,” said Weed.
Through participating in paid outdoor work experiences and extended overnight camping excursions, SKY participants achieve personal growth, positive social experiences, teamwork, goal setting and the rewards of personal and group accomplishment. Trail crews and rangeland crews do hard physical work building trails, bridges, and range structures to improve recreational and agricultural opportunities in the Okanogan National Forest. The local agencies that helped coordinate and fund the program should be commended for their commitment to youth and education, said Weed.
“A lot of Forest Service projects have benefited from the help of these kids,” said Mark Morris, District Ranger at Tonasket. “The trail work they are doing is making trails safer, reducing the risk of serious injury to both people and livestock in addition to reducing soil erosion, Work accomplished with the help of partnerships like this is more than 'a nice to do' it is an integral part to accomplishing our objectives each year.”
Some of the projects that have benefited by SKY kids' work this year have included trail repairs, maintenance and improvements on Clark Ridge, Tiffany, 14-Mile, Horseshoe Basin, and Long Draw in addition to work on Washington State Department of Natural Resources trails. Water developments, fencing, and other range work have also been accomplished at a number of locations including Goodenough Peak and Jimmy's Meadows.
One example of a recently completed project is installation of a handrail on a bridge at Peak Creek. The crew dressed the ends of the rail and finished the stock guide making the bridge ready for use, Weed said.
The program concludes in August with each student giving a short public presentation. Local teachers and crew leaders were: Andrew Jones, Warren Fulton, Scott Olson, Ariahana Jones and Sol Jones. The teachers and crew leaders were all hired from North Okanogan County, as were the students. The majority of work was done on the Tonasket Ranger District, with some work done on the Methow Valley Ranger District, as well.
“These students and leaders have endured working in snow, hard rain, hail, and below freezing temperatures. They have worked hard in the heat and cold and produced a lot of great projects. It has strengthened my belief that today's youth are up to any challenge we throw at them. These are tough, hard working young men and women,” said Weed. “They continually surprise us with their ability to complete projects ahead of time with quality better than what we asked.”
When Weed approached the Okanogan County Commissioners to ask that the county become a part of the program he said SKY benefits the county and kids in five ways that no other program has. These benefits include:
1) Participants in the SKY program grant high school credits to help kids graduate;
2) Attract other outside funding to come into Okanogan County;
3) Create 15 summer jobs for youth of our county with mostly outside money;
4) Create economic benefits in real tangible projects for the county;
5) and Work with other partners who need help to bring money, jobs and education to Okanogan County.