DAVISVILLE — The temperature is bumping the nineties, and it’s humid, but the thick hardwood forest casts a cool tunnel of shade along the trail The air is sticky, but pleasant as Trevor Johannsen, 22, uses a pair of long handled pruning shears to snip the low hanging branches and wild grape vines which are overgrown and reaching into the trail. He’s working at the Dillard Mill State Historic Site in Davisville as part of the Trail Building and Maintenance Crew. Since the end of May he’s been clearing brush, fallen logs, and other debris in an effort to clean up walking trails at the park which need some TLC. He’s part of the State Parks Youth Corps (SPYC), which is a program designed to provide temporary, summer employment at Missouri’s 85 state parks and historic sites to job hunters ages 17 to 24.

“I think it’s a really good program,” said Johannsen, of Clinton, MO, but currently residing in Steeleville. He graduated in the spring from Northwest Missouri State University (which he attended on a cross country and track scholarship) with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation “It’s good for the parks. I think Missourians are outdoor oriented, and this lets the public get out to enjoy what we have.”

The program was implemented by Missouri’s local Workforce Investment Boards in conjunction with the Missouri Division of Workforce Development and the Department of Natural Resources. Launched by Governor Jay Nixon in February, SPYC will offer nearly 1,000 jobs to applicants eligible by income. A goal of SPYC is for participants to “Think Outside” by preserving and enhancing Missouri’s natural resources. SPYC members are working at a wide range of jobs from web design and historical research to concessions. Many, like Johannsen, are simply beautifying the state parks. He learned of SPYC from a professor at Northwest Missouri.

“I thought it’d be a good experience working with the state,” he said. “I think it’d be neat to work in the National Parks and this is a good place to start.”

Johannsen always wanted to work in conservation protecting wildlife, specifically endangered species. Even in high school he knew he wanted to perform hands on research out in the field. He said in college many people change their course of study, unsure of their goals.

“I never thought about changing majors. I always knew what I wanted to do.”

At Dillard Mill, Johannsen doesn’t have the opportunity to do research, but he does see plenty of wildlife. Despite the ticks and chiggers (which he pointed out are worse of the two) he said he enjoys being on the trail. It suits his need to be outside and in nature. In addition to trail maintenance, he and Rick Brown, Park Maintenance Worker II, have worked together cleaning the waterway of the historic mill for which the park is named.

“I hate to see him go,” said Brown, who is Johannsen’s supervisor. “I’d like to keep him for a couple more summers.”

Johannsen’s immediate plans for the summer include marrying his fiancé and moving to Hawaii for an internship at Volcanoes National Park. There he will research and protect the nesting sites of the endangered Hawksbill Turtle. For now, he said he is happy to work in SPYC at Dillard Mill. He believes the program benefits the parks and shows their commitment to visitors.

“It sends a message that Missouri is serious about conservation.”

There are still openings in SPYC. Applicants should have an interest in outdoor work. For more information contact Work Connections in Cuba (573) 885-4413, Salem (573) 729-7137, or the Missouri Career Center in Rolla (573) 364-7030.

Story and photos by Joe Hawkins, Journalist/Grant Writer for the Central Region Workforce Investment Board.