2009 Summer
Youth Corps Program Synopsis
The New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg began its summer with
the goal of being the ‘go-to’ organization to fill the towns’ need for assistance with ongoing maintenance
and special projects. In a few short weeks however, that role has been filled
with some new and exciting projects are being offered to us to participate on. Primarily
an ‘outdoor’ program with a core of environmental/landscaping projects, the Phillipsburg Summer Youth Corps has
been working on the following projects:
1. Vass
Farm: Corpsmembers
cut, trim and remove invasive vegetation all under the supervision and guidance of the Hardwick Historical Society. Preserved though open space preservation, the farm also has
a historical structure that Corpsmembers have learned about from Historical Society members.
2. Phillipsburg
Cemetery: Corpsmembers maintain this 9 acre property through means of mowing,
trimming and pruning trees. A particularly daunting task, Corpsmembers navigate
through headstones and grave markers to make this cemetery with historical significance (once
an eyesore and a source of many citizen complaints) into a place in which we receive compliments from visitors and families
of the deceased when they see us work. Summer Youth Corps has been instrumental
in making the project manageable. Additionally, the Phillipsburg Historical Society
has asked Summer Youth Corps to implement a plan at the Civil War Memorial in Shappell Park.
Said project will include a speaker’s platform for special events and will involve using ‘pavers’
to create a paved area for the speakers’ dais.
3. Warren
County Department of Land Preservation- Corpsmembers
will continue to improve and renovate the Stine Farm property farmhouse by painting and perfroming some light construction,
as well as brush clearing in and around the property.
4. Town
of Phillipsburg - This particular site is the nuts and bolts
of the Summer Youth Corps program. Offering assistance to the Town by means of
mowing, litter pick up, maintaining the Tree Farm, maintaining the grounds of the Walter’s Park Pool, the Firth Youth
Center, previously established Urban Gateway Enhancement sites, watering of flowers and other plantings throughout town, and
now the additional task of mowing, litter pick up and maintenance of the medians of US Route 22
5. Phillipsburg
Shade Tree Commission – preliminary training has been conducted
to help the Phillipsburg Shade tree Commission conduct a full and complete inventory for all street trees in the town. Corpsmembers are being trained on basics of tree identification and rudimentary data
for the survey, but have the additional training to record all data on hand-held PDA’s with GPS/GIS technology.
Summary
The Summer Youth Corps Program is providing services to the Town
of Phillipsburg and Warren County as a whole. It is assisting those participating
youth by providing them with the opportunity to actively assist in a ‘hands-on’ role to improve their community,
for most, a first-time working opportunity. With the addition of AmeriCorps Ed-Awards,
the Summer Youth Corps offers a more comprehensive program to help employ youth, but prepare them for furthering their education
as well. Most importantly, the project is providing the next generation of residents the opportunity to improve their town and county first hand, charging them
with the responsibility of taking care of what is theirs, thereby fostering a sense of personal and civic pride.
