By Bruce Ross, Executive Director
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February 2020 Volunteer Newsletter edition.
For well over a decade, WWA has enjoyed a partnership, through volunteer Erich Pitz, with the Blackwell Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center. This training school in northern Wisconsin teaches 16-25 year old youth for in-demand jobs and trades in the construction and medical industries. They also make our wood duck boxes.
The Blackwell students that make WWA’s wood duck boxes
Volunteers Jim Freck (on ladder) and Al Klug place some of the wood duck boxes built by Blackwell at Jackson Marsh Wildlife Area in 2018
Blackwell was the thirteenth center to begin operations when it opened in November of 1964. As of its 50th anniversary celebration in 2014, more than 14,000 students have graduated from there. Blackwell has helped train disadvantaged youths for in-demand jobs within the construction & medical industries. For the past 55 years, Blackwell students learn skills in industries like carpentry, welding, masonry, nursing assistants, construction crafts, and forest firefighting. Additionally, students can earn their high school diplomas either through a partnership with a local high school, online or through General Educational Development (GED) or High School Equivalency testing.
Sitting on 50 acres in Forest County Wisconsin the center is situated very near where the original Blackwell CCC stood some 30 years earlier. The Blackwell Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center is associated with the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest & has the capacity to house & train 200+ students.
Blackwell Job Corps is much like a small technical school with trade buildings, education facility, dormitories to house students, a full dining facility & recreation/gymnasium.
Not only is Blackwell cost free for all who attend, all trade clothing and tools associated with their specific trade are given to each student upon graduation. Also, students receive a monetary award given to them upon completion of their trade, receiving GED/HS diploma, or both.