The Civilian Conservation Corps ( CCC) was established on March 21, 1933 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt as part of the national effort to combat unemployment during the Great Depression. The program, which was active in building state parks, developing historical sites, and building wilderness roads and bridges, declined in the late 1930s and finally dissolved after Congress decided not to extend its funding in 1942. In the 1930’s, the Civilian Conservation Corp used Heyburn State Park as a camp and built numerous buildings for the park. Created in 1908, the park is the oldest state park in the Pacific Northwest. Located south of Coeur d’Alene, it is comprised of 2,300 acres of water and 5,000 acres of land. Before the land became a park, the Coeur d’Alene Indian tribe used the general area as a gathering place.

Narrators discussed their experiences with the CCC, including their reasons for signing up, camp structure and discipline, job assignments, off-duty activities and community relations, and life after the CCC. Most narrators joined the CCC in an effort to make some money and gain skills and experience that would enable them to make a living. Many enrollees had no job prospects, were supporting family, or were trying to save up for marriage. The CCC issued them clothing, free room and board, and paid them at least a dollar per day. Enrollees sent sent most of the money directly to their parents. Before enrolling, the boys had to interview, take a physical, and get vaccinations. They were usually not informed where they would be working.

CCC camps were considered military service until about 1941 when they were reclassified as civil service. The camps had a military structure with fairly strict discipline. The physical camps were run by a company commander supplied by the Army, while the Technical Services Director, typically a member of the Forest Service, ran work duty. Enrollees were quartered in military style barracks which held up to forty people. There was a roll call in the morning and regular inspections, but few drills. The food was starchy and high calorie, since the work was often heavy labor. Discipline was an important aspect of the CCC. Ordinary disputes were often handled in the boxing ring, while serious offences, such as theft or contracting venereal disease, were reasons for dishonorable discharge. Camps typically consisted of enrollees from the same part of the country, i.e. all New Yorkers or all Midwesterners. There was a considerable cultural difference between Easterners and Westerners, especially since many from the East had never lived in a rural area. Several interviewees characterized the Easterners as naïve and unused to manual labor. New Yorkers were typically perceived as quarrelsome and prone to destroying equipment. Some characterized Easterners as parolees and school dropouts. While there were minorities in some of the camps, African Americans and Native Americans were typically segregated into separate camps in the later 1930s.

Work assignments were determined by interview. Work included building and grading roads, constructing bridges and dams, firefighting, snow plowing, dynamiting rock, sandbagging, and building campgrounds. Many tasks were executed using temporary “spike” camps. Camp enrollees also performed supportive jobs such as running supplies, transportation, cooking etc. Special challenges included run-ins with wildlife such as bears and wild horses, difficult weather conditions, and work accidents due to blasting or other heavy equipment. Enrollees signed up for the CCC for six months and could renew for up to three years. Some people lied about their age or signed up under a different name to be able to work longer. Most enrollees enjoyed rapid advancement.

Opportunities for recreation included dances, parties, and sports. Enrollees played cards, gambled, and listened to the radio. The boys also went fishing and hunting for elk, deer, and bear. Some even went prospecting for gold. Many camps had impromptu movie theaters. Each camp had a camp library as well as an educational advisor who facilitated a variety of educational opportunities, including high school and college courses. These classes included basic academics, such as reading and writing, as well as type writing and cooking. About 30% of the enrollees made use of these classes, though many were too tired to study after a day of manual labor. Many of the enrollees were sexually active. The camps even drew prostitutes on paydays who camped out with a mattress in a truck. Campers were careful to avoid certain girls who were known to carry diseases. One interviewee mentioned the camp leaders showing World War II movies about venereal disease as a deterrent.

After the CCC dissolved, many of the enrollees joined the military, which was a good fit due to the similar command structure and the skills the enrollees had acquired. Most interviewees expressed their satisfaction with their experiences in the CCC, including the positive effect of the strict discipline and close company of other young people. Several mentioned the CCC as a key learning experience enabling them to have discipline and work hard, deal with others, and resolve conflicts.