The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) recently hosted the cadets from the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy (MCA) to Pipestem Resort State Park for a day of learning and activities to celebrate their upcoming graduation and many acts of service giving back to the community and West Virginia’s natural resources.
On June 7, 40 cadets participated in a “Bucket Brigade” stream restoration project at the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Williams River, where they helped WVDNR staff and Trout Unlimited volunteers dump more than 1,000 buckets (10 tons) of limestone gravel in four hours. The gravel helps improve water quality and aquatic habitat for native fish species. On June 11, the WVDNR also hosted a field day for 78 cadets and 15 MCA staff members at Pipestem Resort State Park.
“We’re proud to support the mission of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy and help these kids become responsible young adults who are also enthusiastic about stewarding West Virginia’s incredible natural resources,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion.
The WVDNR’s partnership with MCA began in 2009 with hunter education classes and has since grown into a collaboration that spans across the agency’s Law Enforcement, Wildlife Resources and State Parks sections. These partnerships offer cadets hands-on learning experiences that reinforce the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program’s eight core components, which include academic excellence, health and hygiene, job skills, leadership, life-coping, physical fitness, responsible citizenship and community service.
Beyond this year’s stream project and field day, cadets have worked alongside WVDNR staff on several conservation and improvement projects across the state. Past efforts include cleanup projects at Kanawha Falls and Plum Orchard Lake, trout fingerling stocking and stream cleanups in Kanawha and Fayette counties and the construction of more than 60 picnic tables now used at West Virginia State Parks. Cadets have also participated in guided deer hunts with Natural Resources Police Officers.
“These experiences not only strengthen the cadets’ personal development but also create opportunities for mentorship and career exploration,” said McMillion. “Several graduates of the program have gone on to pursue careers with the WVDNR, inspired by the relationships they built with agency staff and the pride they took in contributing to their state’s natural resources.”
The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is a residential program operated by the West Virginia National Guard, with campuses in Preston and Fayette counties. Since 1993, more than 5,000 West Virginia teens have completed the program, with more than 2,000 earning a high school diploma. The award-winning academy places at-risk youth in a structured, quasi-military environment designed to help them develop into productive, responsible and successful members of their communities.
To learn more about the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy, visit wvchallenge.org.
