Built To Last: The Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota

At the height of the great depression, a program took shape to provide work for unemployed young men that would teach them job skills, restore logged over forest, and take the concept of public parks from paper to reality. Although it lasted only 10 years, the boys of the CCC left a lasting legacy in Minnesota that can still be seen today.
Production funding provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund and by the members of Prairie Public.
About the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
In 2008, Minnesota voters passed a landmark piece of legislation - the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment - which provided funding to public television stations serving audiences in Minnesota. Its mission is to help preserve and document the treasures of culture, history, and heritage that make Minnesota special, and to increase access to the natural and cultural resources we all share.

[@robertclark9]

I can enter any park or recreation area in the country and instantly know it was built by the CCC. The quality of construction, the use of available materials, and the extra effort that was always put forth to make it as beautiful, and user friendly as possible.

[@colburn888]

Is it just me, or do we need to bring this program back?

[@jkaiser169]

Agreed.
What was great about this program, was.
They took people with no experience and taught them a trade. Now a days most trade schools are now tech schools that are degree programs, so it makes it unaffordable to a lot of students to attend.

[@danelengerman8666]

I think about this all the time. I really believe that a program like this could really invigorate our country!

[@marshwalker7217]

@@danelengerman8666 Take a look at the Americorps program. The Florida Conservation Corps goes through them, I'm sure there are similar programs for other states as well!

[@coachjohnodea490]

I've been perplexed for years why a rebirth of the CCC hasn't happened. Makes no sense. In the Bay Area we use so many projects still that were WPA projects.

[@cdybft9050]

Will never happen due to regulations and lawyers

[@saltydawg7078]

Excellent program.

[@poetcomic1]

My father's generation: teenage boys working in the CCC and sending money home to their desperate families and then right out of the CCC barracks into the army barracks of WWII. Then veterans of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Bulge going back to finish high school and then to work or to study under the GI Bill. At the end, if they were lucky the suburban house, the job, the family. It was a long rough road.

[@mikewatkins7618]

That was a rough road but it was the road that led many of our fathers and grandfathers from poverty to being able to support families and own homes.

[@poetcomic1]

@@mikewatkins7618 Not ALL of them of course but so many of them 'the greatest generation'.

[@ziggei_11]

Excellent.

[@riggs20]

Reminds me a bit of the TVA.

[@weswhite6058]

Bring it back

[@mikewatkins7618]

Nowadays, the people who really could benefit from this would refuse to sign up. Or if they did, they would drop out and go home after the first couple of days. “It’s TOO HARD! 😭”
Back then, Americans were a different breed. Young people without any prospects were looking for ways to become self-supporting and successful. Too many now just want an easy ride or a handout. And our current government is willing to give them that.

[@jake-fw8th]

This program and american homeless could solve wild fires in a couple years

[@mikewatkins7618]

The homeless would be starting fires when they dropped a joint or heated up their heroin.

[@dankapprentice1206]

who elses teacher made them watch this for hw

[@AmericasMailman]

🖐

[@Playsinvain]

you are your final
teacher

[@creeperboi199]

distance learning...