Youth Conservation Corps
- Dates: June 21 - August 4, 2025
- Age Range: 18-21
- Expected Crew Size: 12 crew members
- Instructors: 3
- Pay: $400/per week + Training, Wilderness First Aid Certification, Career Mentorship, Room and Board.
FOCUS: Learning leadership skills through conservation education; work outside, build community, and learn about southwest conservation.
| When | Where (Place) | Who (People) | What (Purpose) |
| Day 1 | Arrive at Albuquerque Sunport between 10:00am and 2:00pm
Drive to Basecamp and get settled |
YCC Crew Leaders and Members; Basecamp Cooks and specialists | It’s normal to feel nervous on the first day of a job. Whether you’re flying in from out of state, or local to the Southwest, we start by meeting at the Albuquerque sunport as a group, then drive to Basecamp to get acquainted with each other and the area.
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| Days 2-7 | Basecamp | YCC Crew, Basecamp Staff | Training Working with Diverse GroupsTools Conflict Management Conservation Work |
| Days 8-9 | Travel | Move to First worksite and establish camp.
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| Days 10-35 | Field Projects | YCC, Forest Service Rangers | Working with the Forest Service, our Crew will spend 4 days a week on various assignments that can range from trail building and fence mending to invasive species removal.
Weekends will be reserved for group recreation time, which may include rock climbing, rafting, napping under the ponderosa pines, or an art project led by one of our specialists.
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| Day 36 | Rendezvous | All Groups | Twice a summer, all groups in session come together for a large celebration, called Rendezvous. Trekkers dress up and basecamp is decorated for a chosen theme. We share meals with families and community members and then gather around the campfire for a fun night of storytelling and song. There will also be opportunities during this time period for YCC members to take on special leadership and mentorship projects around Cottonwood Gulch’s basecamp.
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| Days 37-42 | Project Wrap Up | YCC, Forest Service | After Rendezvous, the group will head back into the field either at a new site to complete a new 4-day project, or returning to the last site to finish a project they had previously started.
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| Days 43-45 | Summer Wrap Up | YCC Staf, CGE Staff | YCC will conclude with a final banquet, a pool party, a camping adventure or something similar chosen by the group. On our final day you will return to the ABQ sunport to find your way home. |
Overview of Youth Conservation Corps
Work Outside, Learn About Southwest Conservation, and Practice Leadership and Mentorship
What is the Youth Conservation Corps?
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a summer youth employment program that engages young adults in meaningful work experiences on federal public lands. Crew members are engaged in fun, exciting work projects designed to develop an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility such as trail maintenance; preserving and repairing historic buildings; removing invasive species; helping with wildlife and land research; and leading environmental education. YCC supports the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, or 21CSC, mission to put thousands of America’s young people to work protecting, restoring, and enhancing America’s great outdoors.
- Affords members the opportunity to work and learn alongside federal employees in a wide range of natural and environmental projects
- Assists youth to develop a life-long ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility through team-based work projects and individual placements
- Works to instill young adult awareness and appreciation of the public lands legacy and of the nation’s natural, cultural and historic resources
The above information is from the U.S. Forest Service YCC webpage, which can be found here.
As a historic summer expedition program, Cottonwood Gulch YCC has a special focus on environmental education, allowing crew members to do activities with specialists, and engage in projects both as a participant and as a leader.
Crew Life: What to Expect
The YCC is a residential program: the crew is expected to remain together during the entire duration of the session. The crew will live and work together 24/7, as well as cook and share meals in a community setting. Each crew member will be provided their own 2-person tent for the season and may sometimes have cabins available.
A significant part of the YCC program is providing crew members with a variety of professional development opportunities, including but not limited to: Wilderness First Aid, Outdoor Leadership, Leave No Trace, Interpersonal Communication and Outdoor Technical Skills. As part of a thriving summer camp community, YCC crew members will be mentors and models for younger trekkers, ages 8-18 years old.
After a day of work, crew members will spend evenings either in the field or at our Basecamp where they will have opportunities to lead group chores, play games on the field, and reflect on their day around a campfire. On their “off-time” the crew will engage in activities like rock climbing, exploring slot canyons, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, and learning about the arts and cultures of the Southwest. These activities reflect the same experiences of our summer trekkers and is part of what makes our YCC unique.
Who is Eligible?
Our YCC program is specifically designed for impassioned young people who are interested in learning more about southwest ecosystems, doing hard work to apply conservation principles to the land, and educating and engaging young people in the outdoors.
To meet eligibility requirements, applicants must be:
- At least 18 years old at the start of enrollment and must not reach age 22 before completion of the program
- A U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S., its territories, or possessions
- Have a valid U.S. Social Security number or have applied for a valid Social Security number
- Able to fulfill the essential functions of the assigned work with or without reasonable accommodations
- Actively committed and willing to complete the assigned work projects
Crew members must also commit to the full length of the program and will need to bring their own backpacking backpacks and appropriate clothing, including long-sleeve shirts, long pants, hiking boots, and work boots (hired crew members will receive a full packing list and have the option of renting gear from Cottonwood Gulch). Crew members need to be capable of walking up to 3 miles with 45lb packs upon arrival, with the expectation to eventually accommodate up to 7 miles with 45lb packs. We expect crew members to have a willingness to learn to use hands for tools, controls, and other objects and they will be expected to occasionally lift and move up to 50 lbs.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be scheduled as soon as possible. Apply now: positions available for Summer 2025! We are currently hiring crew members (ages 18-21) and assistant crew leaders (ages 18-21). Open until all positions are filled.
To learn more about becoming a YCC Crew Member, call 505-248-0563 or email ycc@cottonwoodgulch.org
