IDNR Promotes Conservation Job Opportunities for Youth, Young Adults

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is promoting two opportunities for employment for young people who are interested in outdoor recreation and resources. Quinn's office made the announcement on June 24.

Quinn and Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller have made getting youth outdoors with the "Leave No Child Inside" initiative and other established programs a priority for the Quinn administration.

According to the press release, the Illinois Conservation Jobs and Training (ICJT) Program focuses on two separate routes to employing youth and young adults: with grants from the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps that go to employers and through the Illinois Conservation Corps which will employ young adult to work directly on IDNR sites and programs.

According to the release, the IYRC grants "will fund wages for jobs that provide recreational opportunities in areas including (but not limited to) physical activity, arts, and learning."

A quick application is needed for not-for-profit organizations and local governmental agencies that want to apply for the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps grants. The deadline is June 30.

The employment is specified for youth ages 16 to 19 years old for employment up to 60 days. The jobs will pay $8.50 per hour and the youth must be eligible to work through August. The youth who are hired through the grant will work to coordinate and teach summer recreation and conservation programs that promote physical activity, arts, handicrafts and other learning opportunities.

For more information about the IYRC grant program call the Illinois Department of Natural Resources at (217) 782-7481.

The Illinois Conservation Corps is seeking young adults from 18 to 25 years old who will assist staff at IDNR sites -- mainly at state parks. Applicants must be currently unemployed and be eligible to work for up to six months. The positions will be filled on a "first-come, first-served rolling basis."

According to the press release, job duties can include maintaining buildings and grounds, litter cleanup, mowing, weed control, brush removal, concrete and asphalt road surface patching, issuing camping permits and registering campers at state parks, security and fire patrol, building trails, tool and equipment maintenance, painting, repairs; bird care and propagation, bird-pen cleaning and hunter check station operations.

Michele Brown is the conservation worker program manager. ICC job applications can be downloaded from the IDNR website. For more information, contact Brown at (217) 782-6752.

Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

More articles about conservation and education from Jayn Bigler:

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