Southeast Iowa Youth
selected to work on
Hoover Nature Trail

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Three young adults from southeastern Iowa were recently chosen by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) to serve on a crew that will improve and maintain the Hoover Nature Trail. Clint Brown of Wapello, Sam Allworth of Columbus Junction and Lindsay Sulentic of Conesville were selected for this year's crew.

Clint Brown, 21, recently completed his second year at Central College. A Wapello High School graduate, he is returning for his fourth year of work on the Hoover Nature Trail. Brown feels local interest in the trail is starting to grow, and he would like to encourage additional awareness of the trail through his work this summer.

Sam Allworth, 19, is a Wapello High School graduate who recently completed his first year at Southeastern Community College. Last summer was his first year working on the Hoover Nature Trail. Allworth felt he gained many valuable skills from the experience and believes he will learn even more as a result of another year on the trail.

Lindsay Sulentic, 18, just graduated from Columbus Community School. This is her first year on the Hoover Nature Trail, and Sulentic said she would like to see people use the trail more often.

"Clint, Sam and Lindsay all bring high levels of enthusiasm and work ethic to the Hoover Nature Trail," said Marlene Ehresman, INHF trail crew coordinator. "Working on the trail will broaden these young people's experiences while expanding their appreciation for their state, their region and the environment."

The Iowa Department of Transportation Urban Youth Corps Program provided a grant to help fund the 2002 summer program. The $18,000 grant aids in financing two trail crews, one on the Hoover Nature Trail in southeast Iowa and a second crew on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail in southwest Iowa. INHF is managing the grants and crews.

"Thanks to this grant, we can meet the needs of the land with the employment and education needs of our young adults," Ehresman said. "The crewmembers' enthusiasm for the trail often helps to generate community interest in the project and will help ensure the Hoover Nature Trail is enjoyed by countless Iowans for generations to come."

Brown, Allworth and Sulentic will work on the Hoover Nature Trail from May 26 to August 18. Their responsibilities will include tasks such as cleaning the trail corridor of trees and brush, applying weather-protection to buildings and outbuildings, mending fences and gates, trimming trees, mowing trail shoulders, assisting with special events and various other duties. Randy Elder, retired Muscatine Parks Department director, will supervise this summer's crew.

In addition to a paid summer job, the crewmembers also receive educational benefits. Brown, Allworth and Sulentic will gain training in resume writing, interviewing, media relations and other job skills. As part of the education component, they will learn native plant identification and take field trips to various natural sites along the Loess Hills Scenic Byway in western Iowa. Additional opportunities include cultural diversity and NatureMapping workshops with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) AmeriCorps members at Waubonsie State Park near Sidney, the Loess Hills Prairie Seminar in Monona County and a visit to the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge and Prairie Learning Center in Jasper County.

The crew will focus most of their efforts on completed sections of the Hoover Nature Trail located along West Liberty, Nichols, Conesville and Columbus Junction. The second INHF youth crew will be working in Fremont, Mills, Page and Pottawattamie counties on Iowa's Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.