Summer of Youth at Lowell National Historical Park
Lowell, MA - Youth from throughout the greater Lowell area are involved with numerous opportunities at Lowell National Historical Park this summer. The Park’s commitment to engaging youth through partnerships is long-standing. This year, there is also a new component to the progressive series of programs that expand the bridges from seasonal employment, to understanding and appreciation of the National Park Service, to active participation in preservation, to leadership growth, and career development.
“We encourage local participation by youth as they discover the significance of Lowell’s history as well as the numerous professional fields that the National Park Service encompasses. They bring a high level of energy and enthusiasm to each of the programs" said Michael Creasey, Lowell National Historical Park Superintendent. In all forty-five youths, including team leaders are participating in an array of summer programs at Lowell National Historical Park.
The Spindle City Corps (SCC) is an established partnership that has evolved over the past fourteen years between the Park and Community Teamwork, Incorporated (CTI). Summer 2009 includes three components:
· Artship Enterprise - with its creative, hands-on presence at numerous special events including the “Free Fun for Kids" at the Lowell Summer Music Series.
· Youth Theater Program - providing visitors with vignettes of Lowell’s historical characters as portrayed by Lowell High School students.
· Maintenance Crews - assisting with Park maintenance projects to preserve and make accessible historic resources and public walkways.
· Spindle City Corps established a year ‘round program in 2008 with an emphasis on leadership development with local high school students. Nine of the 12 students from the 2008-2009 Year ‘Round SCC program are working as members of the Maintenance Crew and Artship Enterprise this summer and one student is working as an NPS park aide.
CTI Director, Karen Frederick, noted, “Since its inception in 1995, under the leadership of former Lowell City Councilor Stephen Gendron, the Spindle City Corps has held true to its mission of providing youth an opportunity to give back to their community.
Spindle City Corps unites young people between the ages of 16 and 21 for a demanding schedule of community projects and leadership development. The Corps membership is economically, ethnically and racially diverse by design. Through their work together throughout the summer, the Corps promotes an understanding among the members that is rarely achieved in other environments.
CTI is pleased that our successful partnership with the Lowell National Historical Park has continued to grow and bring diversity to the projects offered to Corps members. And, the community benefits from the projects noted above as well as from a group of young adults who learn the value of community involvement and leadership."
In addition, on Tuesday, July 21, all of CTI’s youth-focused summer program participants, about 150 in all, will be visiting Lowell National Historical Park and attending tours and programs. Several of their activities will be presented and facilitated Spindle City Corps.
Mass Area Parks Youth Intake Program
Introduced on June 22, the Youth Intake Program is a partnership among several of the national park areas throughout the state. Lowell National Historical Park, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Boston Harbor Islands, Boston National Historical Park, and Boston African American National Historic Site have begun the program with four young adults. The participants will explore their interests in diverse career opportunities with the National Park Service. This four year pilot program will offer exposure to National Parks, their operations, and connections back to the participants’ fields of study.
For more information about Lowell National Historical Park’s youth programs, please contact Donna Richardson, Deputy Chief of Interpretation & Education at 978-970-5020, donna_richardson@nps.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
