GREENWICH, N.Y. — Earth Day is this weekend. In honor of the holiday, let’s take a look back at the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal-era program that provided much needed jobs to unemployed Americans and implemented much needed conservation work in the U.S.
In the early 1930s the United States was facing economic, ecological, and spiritual crises. The country was in midst of the Great Depression, a worldwide economic depression that brought economic hardship and unemployment to thousands. The 1930s also saw drought affect areas of the country. Years of unsustainable farming practice created soil erosion and dwindling timber resources. These factors caused the Dust Bowl in parts of the central U.S. leading to mass migrations to the coasts in search of work and better lives. The confluence of hardships of the Great Depression created a psychological and spiritual depression in the American spirit and psyche.
It was into this environment that President Franklin D. Roosevelt stepped into as he took office in March of 1933. To combat these problems plaguing the country Roosevelt began implementing his “New Deal” programs that sought to jolt the lagging economy and put people back to work. One of these programs was called Emergency Conservation Works Act, better known as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
The goal of the CCC was twofold: put unemployed young men to work and alleviate environmental problems through conservation projects around the country. President Roosevelt had always had an interest in conservation and had started a reforestation program while he was governor of New York. Because of this long-standing interest he took great interest in seeing that the CCC got started quickly and succeeded. The program was sometimes referred to as Roosevelt’s “pet” and would later be called “Roosevelt’s Tree Army.”
The CCC was officially formed April 5, 1933 and President Roosevelt had a goal of having 250,000 men at work in the program by the summer. Accomplishing this task required the cooperation of officials and resources from the Department of War, Department of Labor, USDA, and the Department of the Interior. Initially, most enrollees were from larger cities in the East, while much of the conservation work was needed in the West. To work out these logistics the Army was used to organize, transport, and “deploy” the enrollees to their designated work areas. By July 1933 there were 1,433 CCC camps around the country.
CCC crew members came from across the country. Enrollees were required to be unmarried men between the ages of 18-25. African Americans could join but worked in segregated units and lived in camps. Later on World War I veterans, and Native Americans were allowed to join allowing for men of married status and older ages to join. Many men younger than this were able to weasel their way into the program. Men were enrolled for six-month stints in the program and they would receive $30 a month, or about $1 per day. Men were required to send $25 of their monthly allowance home to their families in order to provide for their relatives as well as have money for themselves.
CCC units were organized like an Army infantry company with a company consisting of around 200 men divided into platoons of 50. Camps were headed by Army officers. Men were housed in wooden barracks or tents. Men were woken up around 6:00 A.M. by bugle call for some light exercises before breakfast. The workday lasted from around 8:00 A.M. to 3:30-4:00 P.M. in the afternoon. They would then return to camp to wash-up, have dinner, and then have the rest of their evenings free.
CCC units worked in state and national parks, on private lands, and on public lands providing a wide range of conservation activities across the country. Reforestation was a major task of the CCC replanting trees in areas. Throughout the course of its lifespan, it is estimated that CCC crews planted 3.5 billion trees. CCC teams improved lands through erosion-prevention measures in parts of the Midwest and West. Teams also re-seeded grazing lands to improve pasture land.
In accordance with erosion control water projects were also completed. Terracing projects helped redirect the flow of water. Projects to improve drainage, control flooding, repair canals, build dams, and create water storage were undertaken to create better agricultural land and conserve natural resources.
Some CCC work involved wildlife habitat or pest control. Some projects were designed to create, maintain, or restore habitats for specific wildlife. Fish restocking was accomplished in water bodies. In some areas, measures were taken to control invasive or overabundant pests. For instance, a project building trenches to trap and exterminate Mormon crickets was conducted in Utah.
Much of the CCC’s work can still be seen in today’s National and State parks. The concept of the road trip vacation started to take hold in the 1920s, and crews did work to improve parks for tourism and administration. Crews improved roads and constructed lookouts and fire towers for rangers. Campgrounds, cabins, fireplaces, and picnic areas were built to improve visitor experience. Crews also cut or continued work on hiking trails including some more famous trails like the Appalachian Trail and the Colorado River trail. In some parks crews even built man-made lakes for visitors to enjoy. CCC men also established plant nurseries in parks for seed collection and regeneration.
Another important job of the CCC was emergency disaster relief. Crews could be called into action to fight forest fires, aid in blizzards, control flooding, and even rescue stranded livestock. When not actively combating these natural disasters prevention measures performed by crews such as prescribed burns or other fire prevention methods.
While CCC crewmen came from all walks of life, many did not have experience in the kinds of work they were being asked to perform. To help instruct these men CCC hired what were called Local Experienced Men, or LEMs. LEMs were professionals who were local to an area of a CCC camp with experience in the kind of work a particular troop was doing. For instance, in a forest setting, LEMs might be local foresters or natural resources professionals, or in a construction type of project local carpenters or engineers might be employed as LEMs.
For the young men who enlisted in the CCC the program provided an exciting opportunity and life-changing break from routine. Most men showed up malnourished and weak coming from Depression caused poverty-stricken homes. However, the combination of hard work and three meals per day rejuvenated the health of many men. It was common for men to gain up to 30 pounds throughout their time in the program.
Men had the evenings and weekends free. Camps helped fill this time with education and recreation. Camps formed educational courses on a wide range of courses. Basic literacy courses were taught and it is estimated that more than 40,000 young men were taught how to read and write through the CCC. Vocational training was offered in many areas like carpentry, forestry, mechanics, and many more. Many young men were able to broaden their horizons and/or get a start on learning a trade through the CCC.
Camps also provided many recreational activities for crewmen. Camps were outfitted with sports equipment for pick-up games of all kinds. Men formed bands and choirs, and put on plays if they were musically inclined. Most camps had libraries for reading. Journalism was also a popular activity as camps often formed their own newspapers. Men could also find things to do in the local towns where their camps were located. A CCC camp in town was typically a boon to the business of local establishments.
The Civilian Conservation Corps reached its peak in 1935. There were over 500,000 men enrolled in the program spread out across 2,900 camps. Camps could be found in all 48 states and the territories of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The program remained active through the 1930s. However, the growing threat of war diverted attention from leaders and the program was taking funding and resources needed for the war effort. The CCC was also viewed as a temporary relief program, and although it was successful there was never much serious intention in making it permanent. Therefore, the CCC was discontinued in 1942.
The legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps is still seen today. The work of the CCC helped control some of the problems caused by mismanagement of the nation’s natural resources. Many of the National Parks that millions of visitors go to each year feature projects done by CCC workers. Other popular recreational sites owe their beginnings to the CCC. The CCC brought conservation to the attention of many and served as a model for conservation programs that would come after it. The CCC also helped provide “good news” to a country that desperately needed it. The men who participated in the program left it with a renewed sense of hope and they provided Americans with a belief that times would get better.
Chandler Hansen grew up and lives in Easton, NY. He is a graduate of Gordon College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in History. He serves as a writer and editor for Morning Ag Clips.