Free; ages 9-12
One of this year’s finalists for the annual Children’s History Book Prize, Fighting for the Forest, by P. O’Connell Pearson, brings to life the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a work relief program for young men during the Depression. Join us on Zoom and hear from the author herself, who'll be logging on remotely to answer questions and discuss this story of resilience.
Get ready for May 3 with these supplemental materials and activities:
Think
President Roosevelt called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program, “killing two birds with one stone … conserving not only our natural resources, but our human resources.” Have you ever had to think creatively and find a solution to a problem? What were the benefits and drawbacks (pros and cons) of your plan?
Watch
Check out this primary source footage from 1935 and watch as new members of the CCC travel to their campsite. Together they build barracks and camp grounds. You can observe the daily routine of one CCC group here. What do you see them doing? What do you notice about their daily lives?
Want to learn more about the National Parks? Watch Ken Burns’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea (streaming on Amazon). Episode 5 (minutes 32-48) showcases the experiences of three CCC members.
Read
For an inside scoop, read our interview with author P. O'Connell Pearson. Tune in this Sunday, May 3, to meet the author!
Discover how women benefited from and participated in relief programs during the Great Depression. Learn about American artist Dorothea Lange, government official Ellen Sullivan Woodward, and workers’ rights activist Emma Tenayuca through New-York Historical’s Women & the American Story.
Play
How would you lead the country through a depression? Try your hand at our interactive game, Playing the President, designed by our Teen Historians. Make decisions based on the challenges FDR faced as president in the 1930s. You may find a few references to the CCC!
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