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Our Heritage Montana has a legacy of conservation corps history. Many of our citizens participated, as young people, in the Civilian Conservation Corps, Youth Conservation Corps, Young Adult Conservation Corps, and similar programs. The CCC left a legacy in Montana far beyond the original concept which was to provide jobs for young men idling on the streets of America. Their landmarks grace our state from Glacier National Park to Montana's first state park at Lewis and Clark Caverns, to hundreds of miles of trails traversing our extensive national forests. The independent, self-sufficient people of Montana identify with the idea that hard work yields enduring institutions – from the family ranch to a prosperous community. Tested by a vast and rugged landscape, they know this quality makes good neighbors and brings you close to the land. The concept of the corps is embraced and supported by these individuals, their communities and the agencies charged with administering our public lands. The Birth of MCC and the Crews Begin  Efforts to resurrect the CCC began in Montana in the mid 1980's. This foundation of public support encouraged the creation of the Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) in 1991 as a private non-profit corporation. The original partnership between the State Department of Fish, Wildifeand Parks and the Human Resource Development Councils in Billings, Bozeman and Kalispell provided the resources to launch the MCC. The first MCC crews were fielded in the summer of 1991 through the cooperation of sponsoring agencies such as the City of Billings, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service. In 1993, MCC competed successfully for AmeriCorps funding from the newly created Corporation for National Service. Governor Racicot tagged MCC as the cornerstone of Montana's National Service effort. The first AmeriCorps grant doubled the size of the MCC budget and allowed MCC to field our first ten month crews and staff regional offices. Where We Are Now In 1999 MCC implemented the Leader Development Program. These crew leaders are immersed in an intensive leader and technical training that prepares them to co-lead seasonal field crews. Each crew operates as a team performing natural resource and community service projects across the region. In 2001 we began enrolling local youth ages 14 to 18 in a summer program focused on developing work skills and generating a commitment to volunteering through a crew based learning experience. MCC utilizes AmeriCorps leaders to supervise five to six youth volunteers on each youth crew. The Montana YES (Youth Engaged in Service) program is currently offered in five communities and receives financial support from various businesses and individuals. With a growing modern legacy of serving the needs of the people and lands of this region, the Montana Conservation Corps continues to receive funding from the AmeriCorps program operated by the Corporation for National and Community Service. This commitment of funding provides a solid base of support for the program and has allowed staff to focus on quality and program development. Carved from the rocky spine of the continent, and nourished by a hard-working populace, the MCC is fostering a new culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility. |
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