Canaveral NS has hosted an ACE Crew of eight conservation-minded young adults (age 18-30 yrs) for the past ten weeks. The crew consisted of two experienced ACE Crew Leaders from North Carolina and six crew members hired from the local community. This crew was tasked with important work throughout the park. They cleared trails, cleaned island campsites, removed invasive vegetation, helped maintain historic buildings and cemeteries, assisted with water quality projects, and supported sea turtle conservation efforts. They engaged with the Marine Discovery Center to lend a hand with oyster bed restoration and assisted with Canaveral’s annual Day At The Beach event for children from the local Boys and Girls Club. Each day was filled with different experiences. Some were exhausting and strenuous. All were unique and interesting. Crewmember Elena De Marco commented, “Working with ACE this summer at Canaveral National Seashore has been an amazing experience. I enjoyed working with a great team on trail maintenance, campsite restoration, and historic preservation projects in my local National Park.”

To balance out the crew’s field experience, there were many days that offered opportunities for career and personal development. NPS staff members from every division poured into the lives of these eight young people. They shared their personal experiences in federal service. They offered interviewing advice, reviewed resumes, and offered insight into the often complex federal hiring process. The crew learned that there is no one singular route for gaining employment with the National Park Service but that determination and perseverance are the keys to success in any career field. During exit interviews at the end of the program, it was overwhelmingly agreed that the Career Development Days were the most beneficial element of the entire program.

Today’s youth are facing many challenges: a COVID-19 global pandemic, on-campus vs. online learning, employment uncertainties, personal loss, and health issues. To sum up the 2021 Canaveral/ACE Crew project, another crew member stated, “This was just what I needed this summer. Spending time outside, working really hard for a cause I feel passionate about helped me grow and get some clarity before heading back to college. I really needed this!”

To learn more about Canaveral’s youth programs, please call Valerie Stanley, Youth/Volunteer Coordinator at 386-428-3384 ext 222.

ADOPT A SEA TURTLE NEST is an opportunity for visitors, friends, and nature lovers to participate in and contribute to sea turtle conservation. Your donation of $40 supports the protection efforts of these threatened and endangered species.

SEA TURTLE NESTS - All adoptable sea turtle nests will be located within the 24 miles of undeveloped coastline within the boundaries of the Canaveral National Shore.