Youth crew completing Wabash Trace maintenance

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This article was written and posted on INHF's website in August of 2006.

Travelers on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail can enjoy hand-cleared trails, newly repaired bridges and preserved historical buildings along their journeys thanks to three southwest Iowa youth.

Kristin Nothwehr of Clarinda, Travis Bears of Blanchard, and Terence Hancock of Malvern are all members of the Heritage Conservation Corps, a program sponsored by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, a grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation Urban Youth Corps and Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc. The purpose of the program is to the expose southwest Iowa young adults to alternative methods of transportation and to provide them with experience and education in the work world all while maintaining the Wabash Trace Nature Trail for users.

The Corps is supervised by Tom Berrier, hired by the Page County Conservation Board, a partner in the project. They have been trimming trees along the trail, repairing bridges and removing invasive species, among other tasks. Often starting at 6 a.m., these three youth tirelessly work among the bugs and blistering heat. Berrier said this year’s workers are exceptional.

“They have restored my faith in the youth that will be running this country sometime in the future. They accept responsibility, look out for each other and don’t back away from the workload,” he said. “It has been fun showing them new skills and watching them develop as a group.”

The teens are having a great time in their summer jobs.

“I like improving the environment in which people live and giving them a place to go out and ride the trails and have fun,” said Nothwehr. “Since I’m going to be starting college in the fall, this is my last chance to give something back to Iowa.”

Aside from working on the trail, the crew also goes on field trips, attends board meetings of Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc. and local county conservation boards, and attends career workshops that teach them how to search for jobs, write resumes and handle job interviews.

The Heritage Conservation Corps selects new workers every year.

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