BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University is pleased to announce its recent selection as a member of the National Park Service (NPS) 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.
The designation allows for the establishment of the Appalachian State Conservation Corps (ASCC). Under the guidance of App State's NPS Liaison Dr. Mark Spond, the ASCC will partner with the NPS Youth and Young Adult Programs Division to match Appalachian State students and recent graduates with NPS units conducting resource management projects. Eligible participants include all persons aged 18 to 30 years old and military veterans 35 years old and younger.
The partnership stems from a successful proposal submitted in June 2024 by a group of App State researchers:
Dr. Spond, App State's NPS Liaison and instructor in the Department of Geography and Planning
Dr. Kristen Baldwin Deathridge, associate professor in the Department of History
Dr. Joy James, professor in the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education
Dr. Mike Madritch, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor in the Department of Biology
A similar partnership between App State and the NPS was initiated in 2008, and the ASCC was a member of the initial 21st Century Conservation Service Corps between 2015 and 2022. As a renewed member of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, App State looks to continue its history of student involvement at NPS units within Appalachia and beyond.
Specific ASCC Youth Development Goals include:
Develop a program involving cooperative efforts in cultural, historical and natural resource preservation related to projects such as: trail monitoring/maintenance, interpretation, visitor experience, historical-structure surveys, biodiversity surveys, archeological assessments, habitat rehabilitation and environmental hazard recovery.
Promote and stimulate public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement and furthering the understanding and appreciation of natural, cultural and historical resources through the involvement of youth, young adults and veterans in the care and enhancement of public resources.
Continue the longstanding efforts of the NPS to provide opportunities for public service, youth employment and participation of young adults in accomplishing conservation-related work.
Encourage participation by young adults from all economic and cultural backgrounds.
Develop a conservation program of public benefit in cooperation with the NPS to expose young persons to public lands management while furthering their understanding and appreciation of America’s natural, cultural and historical resources.
To learn about opportunities with ASCC, visit npsliaison.appstate.edu.
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About the Liaison to the National Park Service
The Appalachian State University Liaison to the National Park Service (NPS) is the central contact for initiatives that partner the university with NPS units across the United States. The Liaison promotes opportunities that will mutually benefit university students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as NPS units. Past projects have partnered members of the Appalachian community with NPS natural and cultural resource personnel, interpreters and educational initiatives. These partnerships have provided more than $300,000 for paid internship experiences at National Parks since 2013, benefitting over 30 students and graduates. Learn more at npsliaison.appstate.edu.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at cas.appstate.edu.
Written by Dr. Mark Spond
Edited by Lauren Gibbs
February 21, 2025
BOONE, N.C.
Appalachian State University is pleased to announce its recent selection as a member of the National Park Service (NPS) 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.
Appalachian State University is pleased to announce its recent selection as a member of the National Park Service (NPS) 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.