LAKE OF THE OZARKS STATE PARK, KAISER – Nearly a dozen young men and women are currently working at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, with more to be hired, as part of a summer employment program operated by the Lake of the Ozarks Employment Services agency.

Called the State Parks Youth Corps (SPYC), the program offers temporary employment at Missouri’s 85 state parks and historic sites to job seekers ages 17 to 24. Nearly 1,000 will be hired before the program ends in September. Launched by Governor Jay Nixon and implemented by Missouri’s Local Workforce Investment Boards in conjunction with the Missouri Division of Workforce Development and Department of Natural Resources, the program is intended to increase environmental awareness as well as job opportunities for Missouri youth. The bonus for Missourians is the extra hands at the parks. At Lake of the Ozarks State Park, the additional help has allowed the staff to play catch up with projects they often don’t have time to focus on.

“They really plugged in to help us out,” explained Bill Arnold, Assistant District Supervisor for the Ozark Region of DNR. “We’re pleased with what we have. They’re doing tasks park staff doesn’t have the time or manpower to do.”

SPYC is reminiscent of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, which provided temporary employment to hundreds of thousands in projects which restored and protected the environment. Nixon wanted the same spirit of conservation in SPYC, which encourages participants to “Think Outside” (the motto on their green uniform t-shirts) by working on projects which beautify Missouri’s state parks. Park visitors will see them working on trails, maintaining campsites, and just about anything the staff can think of. Today, a youth corps crew of four is cleaning the bathroom facilities at the outpost cabins. Though not a glorious job, they only hesitate a little before wielding their brushes, rags, and cleaner. Joel Schaffner, a Mizzou student and summer intern at the park, supervises.

“I lucked out getting these guys today. They work really hard,” he said.

“I don’t mind,” said Zak Crowder, 17, of Kaiser, as he cleans sinks in the men’s room. He’s an ice hockey enthusiast who hopes to go to college on a scholarship. Crowder said he likes working outside but does not want to do this for a career. He wanted to work for SPYC because the hours were appealing.

“I get a lot of hours,” he said. The pizza place he worked at previously did not offer enough. “Instead of working two days a week, I’m working five.”

For Caleb Wright, 17, of Iberia, the attraction is the job. He wants to work for the state and hopes this will increase his chance of future employment. He said he enjoys the work, and recommended the corps to a friend who is interviewing for a job next week.

“I’d like to do it again, or get on here full time,” Wright said.

There are still openings in SPYC. Interested applicants should contact a local Missouri Career Center.

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