NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER • January 6, 2021
The year 1933 found the U.S. in the grip of the Great Depression. President Roosevelt sent a message to Congress urging creation of a Civilian Conservation Corps. This federal work relief program, in the ten years of its life, put 3 million young men to work on projects aimed at “conservation and development of the natural resources of the United States.” The time is right to advocate for a new corps program to provide jobs for young people, to address pressing problems arising from climate change and environmental degradation, to especially address needs and opportunities to improve public lands, and to provide one vehicle for national service, must be mounted and can accomplish much good on many fronts. The time for a 21st Century Climate and Conservation Corps is now. ~ John Miles