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KIRKSVILLE, MO --  

Young adults got a chance to see the inner workers of Missouri State Parks through the Youth Corps Program.

1,000 employees ages 17 to 23 were hired to work at state parks from May to the end of September.
    
14 of those positions were filled at Thousand Hills State Park.

“State parks have had to reduce their staffing and this came along at a really good time. It was nice having a corps of people we could use to get projects done that we can see need doing but there's just not enough of us to go around, so we could have trail work done and painting done, and general landscaping throughout the park,” said Brent Steacy, Park Superintendent.
   
The program was funded through the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
   
Jobs in the nature field are hard to come by, so the opportunity was a good way for young people to get their foot in the door.
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