Youth Conservation Corps

Work Outside, Build Community, and Learn About Southwest Conservation.

Are you a 16 to 21 year-old looking for professional development opportunities in the outdoor industry?

Join the Cottonwood Gulch Youth Conservation Corps to immerse yourself in Southwest conservation work, community living, and leadership skill development in the outdoors!

What is the Youth Conservation Corps?

The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a summer youth employment program that engages young people, in meaningful work experiences on federal public lands. Youth 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.

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.

After a day of work, crew members will spend evenings either in the field or at our Basecamp where they will have opportunities for leadership roles, 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.

Who is Eligible?

We encourage all youth to consider applying for YCC jobs. To meet eligibility requirements, applicants must be:

• At least 16 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 2024!  We are currently hiring crew members (ages 16-18) 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.