Earth Systems Science, Inc.

Manzanar PLC Continues

Oct 18, 2005

Photo: ?©2005, by GK Lee. LACC EcoAcademy students at Manzanar NHS next to a WWII era dining hall (to be restored) with the Eastern Sierras in the background.

Manzanar National Historic Site officials welcomed the arrival of LA Conservation Corps EcoAcademy students on the first trip of the Fall 2005 season. Laura Grenholm and Nancy Maldonado led the EcoAcademy student team consisting of Ruben Benavidas, Rudy Coto, Jorge Diaz, Yadissa Guevara, Nicolos Kidd Higgenbotham, Hannya Juarez, German Laguna, Maria Martinez, Rosha McKinney, Christian Perez, Anthony Pineda, Monica Powell, Charles M.J. Quinn, and Kenroy Welch. ESSI continued its supporting role with a team composed of Alex Arboleda, Andy Arboleda, Tuyen La, Gregory Lee, Saifon Lee, Erika Rodriguez, and Robert Rodriguez.
John Slaughter, Facilities Manager, greeted the group and gave a brief introduction to the students. John emphasized the importance of community groups coming to the park and helping to maintain it. The favorable past performance of past EcoAcademy trips paved the way for this year?’s team. Frank Hays, former Superintendent at Manzanar, once stated, ?“the diversity of youth in the [EcoAcademy] team is remarkable.?” Other rangers commented on the discipline, hard work, sense of family, and team spirit of the groups. Frank Hays also praised ESSI for its organization and professionalism. The integration of geography, job skills, personal development, social and individual responsibility combined with the work and work ethic was outstanding. However, concerns of a possible weather change forced a decision to put the crew to work immediately. The detailed orientation to the Interpretive Center was postponed.
Funded by a Public Land Corps grant, the team spent Friday afternoon and all day Saturday clearing brush and fallen wood from the Administrative area of the former War Relocation Center. Two year ago, NPS archaeologists excavated some of the Administrative area. They clearly defined some of the block boundaries and building foundations along the south side of main entry road to the park. But nature took steps to reclaim the land, and weeds started to sprout and grow, obscuring the rock lined boundaries.
It got to the point that people driving into the park would see the sign marking the Administrative area, but couldn?’t see the stones delineating the block and building boundaries. In 4 short hours after their arrival on Friday afternoon, 14 Oct, the students had cleared the weeds and newly sprouted sagebrush and tumble weeds immediately adjacent to and about 2 blocks south of the road the main entry drive. ?“It?’s amazing,?” commented NPS Ranger Gerry Enes. ?“Yesterday, folks coming into the site couldn?’t see the foundations at all. Now it looks about how it appeared 2 years ago after the archaeologists excavated the site.?”
On Saturday, the team set out to complete clearing the brush from the Administrative area. The work shifted to the next 2 tiers of blocks south of the entry road. This included the old road and traffic circle in the Administrative area. Some fallen wood and accumulated dried sagebrush and tumbleweeds from the previous years posed a fire hazard and needed to be cleared. By 11:30 am, the winds were gusting in excess of 30 mph, and the crew broke for lunch.
After lunch, the group took a short orientation drive along the Auto Tour route and learned about the Dining Hall restoration project, the Hospital garden pond, and visited the camp cemetery. From there, they went to the chicken ranch area to weed and clear brush around and in the concrete foundations.

Sunday was dedicated to the educational component of the program. After viewing a short film about the Japanese internment at Manzanar, the students were given time to explore the Interpretive Center. They had lesson assignments to complete about the history of Manzanar. During the evenings, students were encouraged to write journal pages of their experiences and observations.