refuge has teen jobs
Special to the Gazette
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge at Hartford will sponsor a Youth Conservation Corps program again for 2009. YCC is a summer employment program for young men and women, ages 15 through 18, who work outdoors most of the time, performing light maintenance projects such as washing vehicles, mowing lawns, constructing bird nesting boxes and maintaining hiking trails, for example, stated the news release. Periodically, they will assist other refuge staff with biological field work.
Seven local youths will be hired to participate in the national youth employment program, which runs for eight weeks beginning June 9 and ending July 31. Work hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Tuesday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, for a 30-hour work week. Participants are paid the minimum wage ($5.85 an hour) and are responsible for their own transportation to and from work.
An adult supervisor is hired as a YCC Crew Leader and is paid 15 percent higher than the minimum wage. This person works alongside the teens to provide continuous supervision and serve as an adult driver when transporting the crew to various work locations on the refuge.
To qualify for the program, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen, must be at least 15 years old (not due to turn 19 years old before the program ends), must possess a Social Security card and have a work permit (if required) before the first work day. A medical history and parental consent form must also be provided before May 31.
Employment applications may be picked up at the Refuge Office or call (620) 392-5553 to receive an application by mail. Completed applications may be either hand delivered to the refuge office or mailed to: Flint Hills NWR, P.O. Box 128, Hartford, KS 66854.
Applications must be either received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. May 15. Participants will be selected through a random drawing. YCC is an equal opportunity employer.