Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s “Guardians of the Trails Youth Program” was recently bolstered by a $60,000 donation.
Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s “Guardians of the Trails Youth Program” was recently bolstered by a $60,000 donation.
The National Park Foundation awarded $35,000 and Ms. Helen Wright provided an individual donation of $25,000 to the program, which is in its second year. The funds will provide a four-month paid salary for Big Island youth to work in the park maintaining and rehabbing trails, as well as back country camp sites for 2021.
The Guardians of the Trails Youth Program, headed by Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s staff member John Stallman, began in 2020 with a $150,000 grant from the foundation. The funds employed six youth as well as the purchase of a new 11-passenger van and equipment.
“We are thrilled to have the Guardians back with so many projects in the park — they are a great addition,” Superintendent Rhonda Loh. “The program gives opportunities for our community youth to learn new skills while supporting the park.”
This year’s program kicked off Aug. 23 and runs through November.
