SOUTH DAKOTA – Maintaining the158,000 miles of trails that crisscross national forests lands is an on-going challenge. On Jan. 28, Boxelder Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center students helped ease this burden on the Black Hills National Forest when they used handsaws to clear fallen trees and packed down snowshoe trails on the Eagle Cliff Trailheads.

Seven Boxelder Job Corps students, along with five center staff, enjoyed perfect weather when they strapped on snowshoes provided by South Dakota – Game, Fish, and Parks as they set out to monitor the Lost Run and Hamburger Trails. The team quickly learned the importance of the snowshoes as they navigated around numerous trees blow down by recent windstorms.

Significant preparation was done prior to work starting in the field, including a reconnaissance trip on Jan. 21. Boxelder students learned plant dichotomy for coniferous trees, basic map reading and GPS skills, how to identify the tracks of animals indigenous to the Black Hills, and how to use Katana Boy hand saws. Trapper Creek Job Corps natural resources students acted as mentors to their fellow students and explained the dangers of tension when cutting trees. They also took the lead clearing trails using the hand saws.

At the end of the day, staff and students identified additional improvements they wanted to accomplish such as mapping the Hamburger and Lost Trails and uploading them into the All Trails app, replacing a signpost and installing more trail markers. Some of  students will receive high school credit for a natural resources class offered by the Lead-Deadwood Career and Technical Campus. Throughout the day, students learned to identify trees and plants native to the Black Hills, pine beetle infestation, and to understand why boggy areas of land are fenced off.

The Eagle Cliff Trailheads Project eases national forest trail maintenance responsibilities, encourages outdoor recreation, helps conserve natural resources and aids in the education and development of the next generation of conservation leaders.

Northern Hills District Ranger Steve Kozel along with Recreation Specialist Bonnie Jones provided their expertise to manage the project while Public Affairs Specialist Beth Doten documented the team’s hard work. Visit the Black Hills National Forest Facebook page to learn more details and to watch a video of this event.  

The Boxelder Job Corps Center is located in Nemo, South Dakota. It has the capacity to serve 124 students at any one time. As of Nov. 30, 2020, Boxelder was ranked 39 out of 117 Job Corps centers nationwide. Boxelder Job Corps education and vocational instructors change lives, one student at a time, by equipping them with the education and skills necessary to begin successful careers, while helping to complete high-priority stewardship projects on national forests and grasslands.

This work was completed as part of an on-going trail maintenance project in partnership with Northern Hills Ranger District,  South Dakota – Game, Fish and Parks, and the Eagle Cliff Ski Association.