AmeriCorps Interns Benefit Mark Twain National Forest Wilderness Areas

By Nancy Feakes on Aug 8, 2011

AmeriCorps Student Interns gained job experience while helping inventory and manage Mark Twain National Forest Paddy Creek and Piney Creek Wildernesses summer 2011.

Dylan Stevens and Michael Herbst, AmeriCorps Environmental Stewards Summer Program student interns, have helped Mark Twain National Forest summer 2011 inventory and manage Paddy Creek and Piney Creek Wildernesses.

These students are mapping and treating non-native invasive plants, inventorying campsites, maintaining trails, talking with visitors, and restoring impacted areas within two of Mark Twain National Forest's seven, Congressionally-designated wilderness areas.

Dylan Stevens, an electrical engineering student at Missouri University of Science and Technology, who has been involved with Mark Twain National Forest for years through recreation activities and participation in other volunteer projects, applied for the program as a fun way to gain work experience and to earn money for college this summer.

Michael Herbst, double majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and Forestry at University of Missouri this fall, was looking for an opportunity to increase his knowledge and experience in forestry and environmental sciences.

Mark Twain National Forest West Zone Wilderness Ranger James Murrell says that these two students have been a valuable addition to his management program this summer, and have helped him to accomplish important improvement work that otherwise would not get done.

"These young men have worked hard, even in extremely hot weather conditions, and made an important difference in the management of the two Wildernesses this summer," Murrell said. "With their assistance, these Wildernesses will meet or exceed the minimum standards established by USDA Forest Service in the 10-Year Wilderness Stewardship Challenge for the first time this year."