Rosie Revere, Engineer encourages young women to explore the world of science. Rosie is a young girl who loves to collect interesting items and engineering them into amazing devices. When her great-great-aunt showed up with a dream to fly, Rosie created a flying machine that flew for just a moment. Crushed by the failure, her great-great-aunt reminded her that she had indeed succeeded – it flew! The moral of the story, “The only true failure can come if you quit.”

Rosie’s great-great-aunt worked on airplanes during World War II. Known as Rosie the Riveters, these women worked in factories to support the war effort. Today, a Rosie the Riveter Home Front National Historic Park in California explores and honors the efforts and sacrifices of American civilians on the World War II home front.

What is your dream job?

Rosie Revere, Engineer

Journal Seven

Send your completed journal to us connect@forcvnp.org or post photos online and tagging us #forCVNP

Countryside

Countryside’s mission is “to build a thriving local food community by connecting people, food and land in and beyond Cuyahoga Valley National Park.”

There are centuries of rich agricultural history in the valley. From the earliest days of Indigenous peoples, to the first European settlers – this valley was lush and bountiful; and its river brought life and opportunity. Across the U.S., industrialization changed how America farmed and ate. Small farms suffered greatly from this progress and began to fade from the landscape.

Countryside, a nonprofit working in partnership with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, was founded in 1999 by Darwin Kelsey to help the park find solutions to a big problem – the disappearing rural farmland in the park. Together, historic farmsteads were rehabilitated to conserve these pastoral and cultural resources that dot the countryside of the valley, a program aptly named the Countryside Initiative. Though the first request for proposals for Countryside Initiative farm leases were only distributed in 2001, there were over a dozen farm properties restored and 10 are currently leased to privately operated farmers who participate in the land tenure program.

After resuscitating farms, there was a clear need for community and support to surround these new enterprises. In 2004 the first Countryside Farmers’ Market opened in Cuyahoga Valley National Park at the Heritage Tree Farm, allowing direct consumer access to the Countryside Initiative Farms. This market moved to Howe Meadow in 2009, and soon expanded to Akron. Markets are hosted year-round, providing the community with access to locally produced foods and products. The farmers’ markets are community builders and economic impact drivers, serving over 80 small businesses and 50,000 consumers each year.

No conversation about the food system would be complete without talking about lack of access and equity. In 2009 Countryside launched food access programming, allowing Farmers’ Markets to accept SNAP and offer Produce Perks, a matching incentive for the purchase of locally grown, fresh produce. They also accept WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Vouchers and nutrition incentives for WIC clients.

In 2018 Countryside launched its new Farmer Academy, a multi-year program that creates paid career pathways for interns through classroom style education in the principles of sustainable agriculture, technical training, business and financial planning, and supportive working relationships with beginning farmers. Participants leave the programs “farmland ready,” with a clear vision of the agricultural business they wish to create and the tools they need to make it happen.

Countryside provides a unique volunteer experience within CVNP, with positions ranging from Farmers’ Markets assistants, office help, and special events. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Countryside, visit their volunteer page.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s mission is “to provide educational, recreational and heritage railroad experiences and to provide alternative transportation to and within Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Ohio & Erie Canalway.”

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s route along the Cuyahoga River has been a transportation hub since the first Indigenous People used in around 12,000 BC. It allowed travel upstream by canoe to an 8-mile portage trail that led to the Tuscarawas River, and from there to the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Because of its importance, it was deemed neutral territory for all passing tribes. As the Cuyahoga Valley became settled by Europeans the river became a focus for a canal, and eventually a railroad. In 1880, the Cuyahoga Valley Line began service from Cleveland to Canton.

In 1972 Cuyahoga Valley Line was incorporated as a non-for-profit organization, and 3 years later began operations powered by a steam engine, just a year after the valley was established as a National Recreation Area.

In 1985, 26 miles of track in the park were abandoned, and by 1987 Cuyahoga Valley had secured the purchase of the track. With Cuyahoga Valley Line able to resume train excursions through the National Recreation Area, they entered into a cooperative agreement, formalizing the partnership for excursion passenger rail service in the park.

By 1991 Cuyahoga Valley Line had launched more excursions and was hosting themed event trains. In 1994 the organization rebranded as Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, their name to this day. CVSR remains a partner with CVNP, as they provide a unique experience for visitors and have great historical significance. They provide diverse programming throughout the year for all ages, and recently launched the Explorer program which offers discounted transportation through the park for hikers, bikers, runners, and kayakers.

Like the other partners, CVSR is powered by their large and dedicated volunteer force. In 2000 when Cuyahoga Valley National Park was established, CVSR began tracking volunteer statistics. In 2018 they surpassed the 1 million hours of volunteer service mark. Volunteers assist in many ways, from servers, to maintenance workers, to highly trained conductors.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with CVSR, visit their volunteer homepage.