Oregon Volunteers - Developing Youth, Empowering Communities

Outdoor High School ODS): NYC - ODS AmeriCorps program provides field and classroom education in an alternative high school education program, taught in an experiential format. AmeriCorps members assist teachers in day to day activities including curriculum development, classroom teaching, legacy projects and the planning and organization of several National Service Days.

Laurel Valley Organic Farm: NYC's farm is celebrating its 7th year as a fundamental part of ODS. The Garden Coordinator teaches students the importance of resource management issues and facilitates hands-on learning that is structured around the completion of conservation projects and field studies activities. Curricula include organic gardening, resource management, conservation and environmental studies linked to a science, math, language arts and social studies curriculum. Students earn high school credit toward a diploma while attending ODS.

Rural School Program: NYC has partnered with several rural schools in Lane County such as Marcola, Oakridge, and Cottage Grove. Members are placed in various sites with the purpose of providing service to these sites in areas of need including but not limited to after school community service, service learning, open gym, tutoring, and enrichment courses such as newspaper, knitting, beading, and bicycle maintenance.

YouthGrow Program: NYC's summer garden program has 9-13 year olds working with ODS Staff and 7 AmeriCorps members helping plant, harvest, and maintain the site’s 2 acre organic garden. Youth receive lessons in organic gardening and botany, and are encouraged to enjoy the fruits of their labor by making food for themselves from the garden. Crews also help maintain School Garden Project and community gardens, and take field trips to explore the Willamette Valley.

The Corps Network - NYC AmeriCorps Programs

Arizona/Idaho Leadership Development Program: Created in 1996 to offer leadership training for those interested in pursuing employment with Northwest Youth Corps and other similar outdoor pursuit programs, LDP integrates team-based work projects, education, hands-on youth leadership experience, and on-site technical training into a curriculum that emphasizes leadership growth, and the development of conservation work skills. Members develop strong project management and technical skills through working on conservation and recreation projects while practicing the interpersonal skills required to successfully lead teenage groups in the outdoors.

Master the compassion, patience, organization and intensity needed to be an outdoor leader as you practice the soft and hard skills needed to help teenage crews, ages 16-19, successfully complete a variety of backcountry conservation projects. This is the only NYC program in which team members are trained to operate chain saws or use power tools, and requires participants be nineteen years old or older. Some outdoor experience is required. College courses in recreation, education, or resource management, preferred.

This is a team-based experience where you learn by doing! You will graduate with sore muscles, new skills and a wealth of new employment opportunities in the outdoors. In fact, NYC has placed 80% of program graduates in seasonal leadership positions.

For position descriptions and more information on these various programs visit each specific program link.