FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SMC IS HIRING YOUTH FROM SOUTHWEST OREGON

For 2014 Summer Trail Work

31 March 2014

Ashland, OR — The SMC is hiring for a summer work and education program for college students from Jackson, Josephine and Curry Counties. Hired youth will participate in trail building and maintenance projects all over southwest Oregon, including projects in the Soda Mountain and Kalmiopsis wilderness areas.

Participants also read daily from America’s great outdoor authors, write daily journal entries, and submit several essays over the summer. For their participation each student receives an educational stipend of $80 per day. One-half of the stipend is accrued and paid directly into students’ college account after completing the program, and the other half of the educational stipend is awarded directly to crew participants.

“It was the hardest thing I did in my life,” said Austine Denbeck, who participated in a similar program in 2013. She spent two weeks restoring fire damaged trails in the Kalmiopsis wilderness area. “Reading Edward Abbey helped keep me motivated.”

Applicants should be in good physical shape and be willing to spend up to 12 days at a time camping out in remote wilderness. Details, tentative schedule and application is available at www.siskiyoumountainclub.org/2014-youth-crew.

The Club is accepting applications through April 15 and making final decisions by May 3.

Questions should be directed to SMC executive director Gabe Howe by emailing howegabe@gmail.com or calling 541-708-2056.

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