Life After SCC…
Posted by sccadmin on Thursday, March 18th, 2010.
Two SCC Alumni, Chris Lane and Brent Corkish shared how their experiences with SCC advanced their opportunites in today’s job market.
Chris Lane:
I am currently attending Fort Lewis College pursuing a degree in philosophy and psychology. I am also a banjo player and singer in a bluegrass band based out of Durango called “Waiting on Trial.” Currently we are preparing for a bike tour that will start in Seattle and end in Southern California. Our bikes of choice will be “Xtracycle” to carry our instruments of which include a stand up double bass along with out individual surf boards.
My relation to the Southwest Conservation Corps began when I was 18 years old after my expulsion from Durango High School for the possession of a sling shot. An expulsion counselor pushed me to join the SCC. After joining a front country trail crew for 2 months, I joined a leadership crew building trail on fourteeners and wetland restoration. A week after that crew ended I joined the winter saw crew for another 6 months. When that ended the Youth Corps helped me get a job with Fire Ready (a fire mitigation company), of which I became foreman after a few months and stayed with them for the next 3 years. That experience then got me a position on a type 2 fire crew in Alaska called the North Stars. At the end of the North Star season, a few other guys and I went on to Chena Hot Shots to finish the season. Currently I have just finished instructing SCC S212 power saw operations coming full circle to give back to my roots that got me started.
Brent Corkish:
I joined SCC 5 years ago as a member of one of their first saw crews. After the crew ended I got a job with a company called Forestry Specialists. It was our job to clear right of ways for future power lines. After that I got picked up by the forest service to be on a type six engine to help stop and prevent fires. Currently, I am working in Flagstaff on a hot shot crew and running a saw crew for them. I am living proof that you can really start a career and have a good base to grow off of after going through one of SCC’s awesome programs.
