Summer Youth Trail Crew: Not Your Average Summer Job
The Summer Youth Trail Crew (SYTC) is always one of our favorite programs of the year. The SYTC program provides an opportunity for five students to join our team in paid positions for eight weeks during their summer break so that they can get a taste of what it’s like to work in outdoor recreation. This was the sixth year that we’ve run the program in partnership with the City of Santa Cruz.
Joining us on the crew this year, we had local students; Angel (18), Theo (17), Sasha (16), Javier (17), and Cory (16). Our new crew leader, Mati, organized and led daily activities and instruction.
The crew got down to business this summer. In a quick eight weeks, they covered serious projects across 5 different city parks, and honed their skills along the way. The crew spent time in DeLaveaga Park, Moore Creek Preserve, Pogonip Open Space Preserve, Arana Gulch, and Arroyo Seco Trail. They tackled everything from invasive species removal to bridge construction, and handled it all with smiles on their faces. Perhaps the most impressive project they completed was a massive rock armoring effort throughout U-Con Trail, the most used trail in the county.
The work that the Summer Youth Trail Crew completed ensures that hundreds of thousands of trail users have a safe and fun time outside in City Parks. If you explored a City Park recently, we encourage you to get out there and sample a bit of the hard work that this year’s crew put into our open spaces.
For those of you on Instagram, you can check out some of the highlight projects they completed below:
We caught up with crew lead, Mati, on the final day of the program to ask her how things went..."We had a great time on the trails this summer, those 8 weeks went by very fast! The crew was always open to take on new projects and we stayed busy working on all the city parks. It has been great to see the crew (and myself!) learning new skills and spending our days together in nature! I'm so grateful for the community we are a part of, as many trail users stopped to appreciate and thank us for the work we were doing. and especially to know that the jobs we have done will help people have a good experience on the trails for years to come!"
We also grabbed the rest of the crew (during our annual ice cream party) and got them to answer some questions we had for them about the program and also to learn a little more about them:
Why did you apply for / join the Summer Youth Trail Crew?
Angel: I was seeking experience in the outdoor recreation industry and was also very interested in working outdoors while gaining experience using tools.
Theo: It was either this or the boardwalk! And the idea of working outside in nature sounded much better. I also use the trails and thought it would be cool to help maintain them.
Sasha: I was looking for a summer job and wanted to be productive outside so this opportunity looked perfect. It also included going to all of the parks that I love in Santa Cruz.
Javier: Last summer all I did was go out with friends so I really wanted to do something productive this summer. I was looking for a job and found out this one was all about going to parks and being in nature so it seemed perfect.
Cory: I was looking for a summer job and this seemed like it would be interesting and would be doing something good and useful for the community.
Mati: I was looking for new experiences in my life. Loving nature and caring about education, this seemed like the perfect job for me. It also seemed like a great opportunity to build more skills. I’d do it again!
What new skill/s did you learn?
Angel: I learned how to identify poison oak, which was important, and also learned how to properly use trail-building tools like tampers and rogue hoes.
Theo: I learned how to determine what the next steps were on a project instead of waiting around for the next set of instructions. Less waiting around, more working!
Sasha: I finally learned how to identify poison oak!
Javier: We had the opportunity to completely change (repair) a damaged trail and I learned what it took to build a beautiful trail. It’s a lot of work!
Cory: I learned how to effectively tamp down dirt without it sticking to the tool I’m using.
Mati: I learned a lot of things but most importantly I learned how to manage time. It was important to make sure we weren’t diving into too big of trail projects because the trail needed to be usable by the end of our day.
What was your favorite part of being on the Summer Youth Trail Crew?
Angel: The feeling after we finished for the day…knowing we accomplished something and could see the outcome.
Theo: Seeing a lot of people I know on the trails every day and saying hi.
Sasha: I really liked the more in-depth and involved projects. Being able to step back and see how you tangibly improved the trail once it was complete.
Javier: Being outside in nature. It was fun working hard and then when you're on break it's so relaxing being out in the woods.
Cory: When walking or taking a break, it was nice to take the time to focus on the little things while being in nature.
Mati: I really enjoyed people's appreciation and curiosity for the work we were doing. And also looking at before/after photos of projects we finished.
How about your least favorite part?
Angel: The traffic getting to work.
Theo: The poison oak and other unhappy plants (thistle, broom).
Sasha: Mosquitos at Arana Gulch.
Javier: The 30+ minute hike up to the job site on U-Con. I wasn't packing enough water at first!
Cory: There was a really terrible noise that certain work gloves would make when rubbing working with rocks.
Mati: Driving my car to work (because I would bring tools and supplies)..I'm used to biking to work!
What are 3 things you like?
Angel: Late-night drives, soccer, and playing guitar.
Theo: In-N-Out burger, ice cream, and Crocs.
Sasha: Pizza, drinking water, and wearing shorts.
Javier: Sushi, working out, and outer space.
Cory: Bagels, the sensation of falling, and tippy chairs.
Mati: Sunsets, pizza, and the feeling of putting my hand in a bag of lentils.
What about 3 things you don't like?
Angel: Cramps, Dr. Pepper, and writing.
Theo: Bees, electric scooters, and donuts with cereal on them.
Sasha: Posion oak, thistle, and French broom.
Javier: Migraine-inducing perfumes, the smell of some plant I can't remember, and walking by myself on trails.
Cory: Sandpaper, wobbly street signs, and the expectation that nothing will ever be as good as you expect it to be.
Mati: Cats, video games, and whole cherry tomatoes.
How about a goofy one...what emojis describe you?
Angel: 😂🥱😎
Theo: 👍🤢☠️
Sasha: 💩🙂👍
Javier: 🎧👽☕️🥱🦾
Cory: 🌗3️⃣🧡
Mati: 🤌🍕🍻
What's up next for you?
Angel: Finding a job but also taking some courses at Cabrillo College (focused on engineering & music).
Theo: I'll be a senior at PCS. Thinking college after that but we'll see!
Sasha: I'll be a junior at PCS and plan to do some volunteering with SCMTS.
Javier: I'll be a senior at Watsonville High and maybe I'll be the SYTC lead next summer. Then thinking college after that.
Cory: I'll be a senior at Harbor High then planning to go straight to a four-year college.
Mati: Coming on full-time with SCMTS! (congrats, Mati—excited to have you on the team!)
We want to thank the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation team for partnering with SCMTS and making this program possible! Plus a HUGE thanks to the Summer Youth Trail Crew, Angel, Theo, Sasha, Javier, and Cory! Best of luck on your next adventure!
Photo Gallery:
More about the program:
Do you know someone or are you yourself interested in joining the Summer Youth Trail Crew next year? We expect applications to open in April 2024 but feel free to send us an email ahead of time at [email protected].
SCMTS has been leading the program for the last 6 years, and the City of Santa Cruz funds student staff time and partial SCMTS staff time.
The program runs for eight weeks from June - August, and applications are open starting in April on the City of Santa Cruz website.
