The Rocky Mountain Conservancy Corps finished its most ambitious work program this year. The 54 members worked with the National Park Service and the National Forest Service to improve some of Colorado’s most popular recreation areas. This season marks the 20th anniversary of the corps.

The conservation corps provides work opportunities for young adults from ages 18-30, giving them skills training, professional development and an opportunity to explore conservation careers. Participants receive a stipend and housing, and it is funded by donors, grants and the National Park Foundation.

Doug Parker, a trail program supervisor, stated in a news release that the corps is an integral part of the park’s trail maintenance program. He added that this year the crew helped with repairs to the Longs Peak Trail.

“Corps members installed riprap pavers in the high alpine region to mitigate erosion and stabilize trail tread for the more than 40,000 visitors that use the trail in the busy summer season,” Parker said.

The corps completed projects in Rocky Mountain National Park and the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The finished projects include:

• Maintaining 295.4 miles of trails and clearing 1,150 drainage structures.
• Building six bridges and 640 feet of new trail.
• Constructing three rock retaining walls, two rock staircases, and a climbing access trail across a talus field in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
• Restoring the Holzwarth Historic Site on Rocky Mountain s west side, including raising and stabilizing the cabin’s foundation, installing new roof and siding, and reconstructing the woodshed and fencing.
• Removing 657 hazardous trees, with 18 members earning crosscut certifications.
• Clearing 160 acres of invasive plant species and working in Rocky’s greenhouse nursery.
• Removing 12 illegal campsites.
• Constructing burn piles with the NPS fire crew.

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Corps is already planning for the 2024 summer season. The conservancy’s executive director Estee Rivera says the corps is its flagship program because it educates and inspires the next generation of land stewards.

“I encourage everyone with young adults in their lives to share information on this opportunity with them. The work is hard but the new skills, life experience, camaraderie, and time spent in Colorado’s amazing wilderness are priceless,” Rivera stated in the press release.

To support the corps or for more information about next year’s program and application process, visit RMConservancy.org.