Cassville, Missouri - On May 4th an event was held to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Missouri's Roaring River State Park near Cassville.  The festivities included the dedication of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) statue.  

The depression-era CCC served as the foundation for today’s Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers.  The Mingo Job Corps CCC students and Missouri State Park Youth Corps members were in attendance, as well as some former CCC members from the depression era.

In his remarks Governor Jay Nixon said, "In Missouri, we have worked to preserve and embrace the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps. This legacy is more than stone and structures. It is giving young people a chance and preserving our natural resources."

Governor Nixon helped start the State Park Youth Corps program in 2010, and according to the Cassville Democrat, "Through the program, over 2,000 youth corps members have worked more than 500,000 hours."



Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks Director, also spoke and recently served on the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Federal Advisory Committee. He is also credited by the Cassville Democrat for serving a big role in the creation of the State Park Youth Corps.

Mingo Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is a residential vocational and educational training program serving students ages 16 to 24, located near Puxico, Missouri.

In addition to seven vocational trades, Mingo Job Corps offers GED or High School attainment, driver’s education, and basic health care all at no cost to the student. The U.S. Forest Service administers the program in Southeast Missouri and at 27 other centers across the nation. For more information, call 573-222-3537 or visit www.jobcorps.gov.