TYCC crew from T.O. Fuller State Park in Memphis takes a break for a group photo.

TYCC team from Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in front of Capitol Hill.

TYCC crew works on playground improvements at Booker T. Washington State Park in Chattanooga.

Trail improvements at Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area on the Cumberland Plateau were one of many achievements of that TYCC crew.

TYCC crew members in front of the barracks restoration at Fort Loudoun State Park in Monroe County.

I distinctly remember Governor Phil Bredesen telling me in one of our first meetings after joining state government that he wanted to establish a meaningful conservation-oriented program for young people in Tennessee. The governor described a variety of real-world outdoor experiences that would deliver needed improvements at our state parks and natural areas, much like the Civilian Conservation Corps did nearly 75 years ago. His vision led to the General Assembly establishing the new Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps (TYCC) in 2006, and I am pleased we are featuring people and projects involved with the successful first year of TYCC in the March/April issue of The Tennessee Conservationist  magazine.

I have received very positive feedback about the Tennessee Youth Conservation Corp’s inaugural year. TYCC accomplishments included the reconstruction and furnishing of an 18th century military barracks at Fort Loudoun State Park. This restoration involved stonemason work, framing the building with oak timbers, applying clapboard siding, and roofing with wooden shakes. The completed barracks building will join other reconstructed structures at Fort Loudoun to make this location a premier interpretive site for frontier colonial life. The quality work and valuable contributions of TYCC participants are readily apparent at this historical park alongside Tellico Lake.  

TYCC also placed special emphasis on developing strong programs at urban state parks, including T.O. Fuller, Booker T. Washington and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Parks. Crewmembers at these locations built new trails, created landscaping and added playgrounds while getting exposure to different conservation activities. TYCC enabled young people from an urban environment to develop a sense of confidence about being active in the natural world. At T.O Fuller State Park in Memphis, TYCC participants planted new flowerbeds, refurbished an amphitheater and renovated popular walking trails. These demonstrated conservation achievements at both our urban and rural state parks were instrumental in TYCC receiving the 2007 Tennessee Parks and Recreation Association’s Program of the Year Award in November.     

I want to share my appreciation with everyone at Environment and Conservation that has supported TYCC through its first year.  Our success is due in large part to the commitment, energy and hard work of the many department staff involved with TYCC, especially those responsible for training, organizing and supervising the TYCC crews.  We are on the way to having the kind of program Governor Bredesen envisioned when he originally proposed his idea for the Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps.