Pilot Project In Marin Trains Youth In Trail Maintenance

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County Parks and the nonprofit Conservation Corps North Bay are training future road and trail maintenance specialists in an experimental pilot project that could lead to employment with the parks department.

Marin Parks contracted with Conservation Corps North Bay in September for the $179,000, six-month project. A four-person crew of trainees will learn about drainage, vegetation management and stair maintenance. The crew will work with the Marin County Open Space District staff on flood prevention during the stormy winter weather, Marin County Parks said in a news release.

A Marin County Parks survey this year showed strong support for sustained or increased funding in vegetation management, wildfire fuel reduction and facility and trail maintenance and upgrades. Marin County Parks Director Max Korten said assistance is needed in those areas.

San Rafael-based Conservation Corps North Bay gives corpsmembers an advantage in the job market by teaching skill-based certifications and access to job and internship openings throughout its extensive network. Conservation Corps North Bay annually serves 200 young people, most of them from underserved North Bay communities such as San Rafael's Canal neighborhood, Marin City, Novato, Petaluma, Cotati, Santa Rosa and Windsor.

Almost all of the youths live below the federal poverty line, and 60 percent of corpsmembers have dropped out or aged out of high school and are disconnected from work and school when they join Conservation Corps North Bay.

"This collaboration responds to our emphasis on professional development and training. There's no doubt that corpsmembers are viable candidates for jobs with us. As they look to climb the career ladder, Parks is benefiting from their hard work through this pilot apprenticeship," Korten
said in a news release.

The venture between Conservation Corps Marin County also benefits young people from minority populations. More than 30 percent of corpsmembers are Hispanic and 30 percent are English language learners. Twenty-one percent of corpsmembers identify themselves as multi racial, according to Marin County Parks.

After their six-month work with Conservation Corps North Bay, around 70 percent of program graduates go on to living-wage jobs in construction, landscaping and natural resource management.

Marin County Parks wants to improve opportunities for corpsmembers to find full-time, part-time or seasonal employment.

Former corpsmember Martin Acosta, a Marin County Parks ranger for 14 years, is one of them.

"For many young adults, including myself, CCNB is a steppingstone that opens doors to other opportunities," Acosta said in a news release. "It is one of the best places to learn and develop new skills, forge a solid work ethic and gain cultural awareness. Thanks to CCNB, I'm working to protect Marin's wonderful open space preserves," Acosta said.

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