Heart of Oregon Corps youth & volunteers clean up Dry Canyon Park on service day
Triton Notary
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) Hundreds of youth and volunteers from the Heart of Oregon Corps converged on Dry Canyon Park in Redmond for a major cleanup on Global Youth Service Day.
Their efforts included addressing a significant safety concern by removing hazardous makeshift forts hidden along the canyon walls.
Each year, the Heart of Oregon Corps conducts a major cleanup of Dry Canyon Park and this year’s focus on fort removal was critical due to the dangers these structures presented.
Many of the makeshift forts discovered were covered with sharp barbed wire and old fencing, posing a serious risk to park users and wildlife.
Beyond the removal of hazardous forts, volunteers also contributed to the park’s upkeep by touching up paint and repairing sections of the disk golf course.
Corvin Marshall, a Field Team Lead for Heart of Oregon Corps, highlighted the immediate dangers posed by the makeshift structures. “It’s sharp. It’s dangerous, it’s rusty. It can cause tetanus. Dogs in veterinary clinics get tangled up in it all the time. It just, like, rips right through them.It’s horrible. So it’s really good that we’re out here.” Marshall also emphasized the positive impact on participants, adding, “I think building the youth, or joining the youth corps, really gives you a sense of community. It challenge you to challenge yourself to be better.”
The Heart of Oregon Corps offers a range of programs for young people, including part-time projects during the summer for teens and young adults and opportunities for those taking a gap year after high school. The Corps also provides GED programs and job training initiatives.
As summer approaches, it is an opportune time for teens and young adults to consider joining the Heart of Oregon Corps and become involved in their community projects.