Summer Positions Available for Teens at Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge

CHAUTAUQUA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, near Havana is accepting applications for the 2018 Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program tentatively scheduled to begin June 4 and end July 27. YCC enrollees work on wildlife habitat improvement projects, refuge maintenance projects, trails, boundary posting, brush cutting, and other outdoor work. Environmental education field trips are scheduled to provide enrollees a diverse experience with other conservation activities. Applicants must be at least 15 when the program begins (June 4) and must not turn 19 before the program closes (July 27). Enrollees will be selected in a random drawing to participate in the 8 week program. YCC enrollees will be paid the state minimum wage of $8.25 per hour, 40 hours per week. The daily reporting site is the refuge headquarters located 9 miles northeast of Havana, just off the Manito Blacktop. Working hours are 7:30 AM-4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Applications must be received at the refuge headquarters by 3:00 PM on Friday, April 13. If selected, applicants under the age of 16 will be required to obtain a work permit before May 2. The work is primarily outdoors so exposure to insects and poison ivy is inevitable. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be provided by the refuge. Information on obtaining YCC enrollee applications is being provided to area schools. For more information, please contact Ron Fisher at 309/535-2290 or Ron_Fisher@fws.gov. See Mrs. Hatfill for an application.