$60,000 Awarded to the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park’s “Guardians of the Trails Youth Program” is in its second year.  The National Park Foundation awarded $35k and Ms. Helen Wright provided an individual donation of $25k.  The funds provide a four month paid salary to Hawai’i island youth to work in the park maintaining and rehabbing trails, as well as back country camp sites for 2021. Led by Friendʻs staff member John Stallman, this yearʻs program starts Aug.23 and will run through Nov. of 2021.

In 2020, the Friends started the program with a grant from the National Park Foundation of $150k.  These funds employed 6 youth, the purchase of a brand new 11 passenger van and equipment. The program was successful and operated during COVID.

The program gives opportunities for community youth to learn new skills while supporting the park.