[KHTS] – Hart School District officials are set to look at a new “cooperative effort” with the U.S. Forest Service that will enhance the growing number of opportunities for students in the district’s Regional Occupation Program, as well as improve and restore Angeles National Forest trails.

“It does my heart good to see the new programs coming online and strengthening our young men and women to be prepared for their careers,” said Hart district board member Joe Messina. “Helping our young people find their passion through ROP and career technology education is part of what the district does so well.”

The district’s regional occupation program, or ROP, offers career exploration opportunities for district students.

“Specifically, the district ROP has agreed to work on trail causeway reconstruction within the West Fork Drainage of the Upper San Gabriel Watershed,” according to the agenda. “The project will require a 14-person trail crew with two crew supervisors working over a six-day period.”

The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year, according to the district’s agenda.

The Angeles National Forest, which borders northern and eastern portions of the Santa Clarita Valley, contains approximately 500 miles of trails and receives about 1 million visitors per year, according to forest officials.

The project is aimed at maintaining and restoring the renowned Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which travels a total distance of 2,650 miles through California, Oregon, and Washington until it reaches the Canadian border.

The part of the trail passing through the Angeles National Forest in the Santa Clarita Valley was damaged in the 2009 Station Fire.

Under the agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, the district would be responsible for:

– Providing culturally diverse individuals from the Los Angeles area to participate in the program;

– Training and using participants to maintain, construct, and restore trails;

– Providing field supplies, as well as “in-kind” services such as supervision, supplies, and technical assistance;

– Preparing and submitting appropriate progress and status reports.