Agency works hand-in-hand with Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians bringing work-based learning to youth
Two new programs at the Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in Cherokee, North Carolina are bringing specialized skills to the future workforce: students are learning forestry including inventory and wildland fire.
The Raven Fork Fire Militia of the Oconaluftee Job Corps CCC is part of the agency’s wildfire readiness and response. The team is ready to travel across the country this fire season to assist with wildland fire operations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has conducted nationwide forest inventories for nearly 100 years through its Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program.
“FIA has been working with Oconaluftee Job Corps for six years,” says forester Sam Lambert. “What FIA does is very specific, we do the forest inventory for the U.S. It takes a lot of time to train people to do this. By training students, we are also helping Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and supporting forestry and tree resource inventories.”
The Oconaluftee Job Corps CCC is only a few miles from the Qualla Boundary, the federal trust land held for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
Many members of the EBCI attended the event and were part of the program. Tommy Cabe, forest resource specialist with EBCI, discussed fire and the Tribe’s interest in cultural burning. Cabe is also the tribal liaison with the Forest Service Southern Research Station.
The Oconaluftee Wildland Fire Program trains youth as firefighters. Students in any of the trades at Oconaluftee Job Corps CCC may participate in the fire program and some choose to become part of the Raven Fork Fire Militia. These students became qualified firefighters (Type 2) and receive training in multiple areas including dispatch, logistical support, and as sawyers.
“These students have been great. We’ve had them work with us on prescribed fire and wildland fire on the Nantahala National Forest and they always do great work,” says district ranger Troy Waskey.
A huge network of people and organizations are invested in the students. Developing students today is helping meet tomorrow’s needs for foresters and firefighters who can safely mitigate wildfires and conduct forest inventories to inform active management.
The Oconaluftee Job Corps is now one of the top-ranked Job Corps centers for forestry in the country. The personnel are key to the success of the programs. Jerry Buschmann is the center director, and Rebecca Ensley coordinates the training programs as the work programs officer.
The Oconaluftee Job Corps Center is among the 24 Civilian Conservation Centers that are operated by the Forest Service in 15 states across the country.
Learn more about the Forest Service partnership with Job Corps.