Communications Staff

Throughout February, Northwest Youth Corps and Idaho Conservation Corps crews kicked off our 41st season with extensive training sessions on leadership, risk management, and project management to prepare for the busy year ahead. A total of twelve crew leaders participated in a pre-season training session at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, covering chainsaw and power tool use, leadership, risk management, decision-making, crew culture, wilderness medicine review, and project management. Six Community Wildfire Protection Corps crews, six Urban and Community Forestry crews, and one Interpretation and Education intern launched in February, while each state gears up for our 8 Young Adult Camping crews to launch in March. Oregon: Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Crews and Community Wildfire Protection Corps (CWPC) UCF and CWPC leader training was held in Williams, Oregon, for 11 leaders. The training sessions included topics such as leadership, risk management, crew culture, and power tools. Approximately 30 CWPC members received training in Dexter and Cottage Grove, focusing on chainsaw and power tools, camp expectations, and project management. After completing training, three strike teams worked along the Applegate Fire in Josephine County, where they received Home Ignition Zones and S-212 Fire Training (certification course focusing on wildland fire […]

Oregon: camping crews – young adult In October, Red crew spent two weeks working alongside Bureau of Land Management (BLM) interns in Coos Bay, improving the habitat for native Phacelia plants. November saw them seeding native species in post-fire areas of the Willamette National Forest with the BLM and United States Forest Service. In December, they partnered with the Washington Department of Natural Resources to plant over 3,000 native plugs.  Orange crew spent two weeks at Thomas Creek Aspen Meadow in Fremont-Winema National Forest using chainsaws to reopen meadow habitat, followed by two weeks removing invasive species in post-fire zones of the Willamette National Forest. Their efforts concluded with two weeks of fuels reduction at Smith Rock State Park, creating nearly 200 slash piles for prescribed burns. Blue crew started October with Snowy Plover habitat restoration through beach grass removal in Northern California. They also removed invasive species in post-fire zones of the Willamette National Forest, constructed trails in the Columbia River Gorge at the Tom McCall Preserve, and supported developed recreation sites at Diamond Lake in the Umpqua National Forest. To cap off the season, they collaborated with the Army Corps of Engineers in Cottage Grove for two weeks of invasive species

Oregon: camping crews Oregon Programs launched three young adult crews in September. 14 crew members began their season at HQ on Sep. 4 before heading out to a training site in the Umpqua National Forest. From there, the three crews split up to begin project work across the region. Red crew stayed in the Umpqua for the first week, working on the Yellow Jacket Trail Loop. From there, they went backcountry in the Steens Mountains for the next three weeks of their season. They wrapped up September by brushing and levelling multiple backcountry trails in this beautiful and unique part of Oregon. Orange crew spent their first week in Northern California, removing invasive European beach grass from the Lake Earl Wildlife Area with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Their next two weeks were in the Rogue River Siskiyou National Forest, where they restored tread after a forest fire impacted the trail system. They then finished out the month in the Fremont Winema National Forest, removing competing tree species from an aspen meadow to allow for more aspen growth. Our Women’s Blue crew’s first week was with the Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative, removing invasives in the Siuslaw National Forest.

Oregon: young adult camping Orange crew maintained trails in Siuslaw National Forest, covering more than six miles on the Drift Creek Wilderness and Sweet Creek trails. They then shifted gears to work along the Illinois River, completing fence projects and removing invasive plants in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Red crew began the end of their session by working on a 15-mile trail in Mount Hood National Forest and helping maintain the Old Cabin Loop trail. They had the opportunity to work with the Forest Service on logout work (removing fallen trees and debris from trails) before finishing in the Mt. Hood Wilderness on the Timberline #600 trail. Their final week took them to the Steens Mountains, where they put their backcountry skills to the test. Blue crew spent three weeks collaborating with the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group. They focused on beaver dam analogs, riparian zone restoration, and trail maintenance. Wrapping up their session, they worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Celilo State Park, tackling vegetation removal, followed by a visit to The Dalles Dam. Washington: urban and community forestry Urban and Community Forestry crews 23 and 24 (UCF) crews partnered with the Tacoma Tree Foundation

Oregon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2OyCj7tkI8 Orange crew (YA 10) has been hard at work alongside Portland General Electric at Timothy Lake, south of Mount Hood. They have restored miles of trails and rejuvenated campsites, ensuring they are safe and enjoyable for visitors. Additionally, the crew has naturalized over 50 trails, helping to preserve the natural beauty and integrity of the area. Red crew (YA 11) focused on aquatic restoration in Sheep and Kelsey Creek in Northeast Oregon. Collaborating with Trout Unlimited, they constructed nearly 60 beaver dam analogs and post-assisted log structures, crucial for enhancing local aquatic habitats. In week seven, they moved west to avoid fires and worked with Mount Hood National Forest on a trail project in the 15-Mile Recreation Area. Blue crew (YA 12) was engaged in various projects in Mount Hood National Forest. Recent fires have made Lost Lake Campground and the White River Trail system inaccessible. Their efforts here included installing culverts, drains, and water bars to improve trail infrastructure. In week seven, the crew shifted their focus to aquatic and riparian zone restoration across the Columbia River in Vancouver, WA. Blue crew (YCC 06) worked with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in South Willamette, maintaining 4.5 miles

We are excited to share the latest updates from our Northwest Youth Corps crews for the month of June. Our members have been hard at work on various projects, developing skills and making significant contributions to our public lands. Here’s a detailed look at what our crews have accomplished this month: Oregon:   In the first week, Orange Crew began their journey with a developed recreation project, cleaning up a campground in southern Oregon in partnership with the Roseburg Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to ensure it was ready for the summer season. During the second week, they ventured into the backcountry of the Umatilla National Forest with the Blue Mountain Land Trust. Here, they learned to use crosscut saws alongside volunteers, logging out the trail and enhancing their trail maintenance skills. In the third week, continuing their backcountry adventures, the crew worked in the Siuslaw National Forest, performing tread repair along the North Fork Smith River, helping to preserve these beautiful natural areas for future visitors. Red Crew dedicated the first three weeks of June to working in the Mount Hood National Forest. They focused on the Camas Creek and Clear Creek trails, as well as the McCubbins Gulch OHV

Oregon:   May was an exciting month in Oregon with the graduation of four Young Adult crews on May 18th and the launch of the first Youth crew on May 24th. The Blue crew improved trails and recreation areas in the Siuslaw National Forest. The Yellow crew completed invasive plant removal near the John Day Dam with the Army Corps of Engineers before transitioning to developed recreation work in the Umpqua National Forest. The Orange crew improved developed recreation facilities in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and later worked on invasive plant removal along the McKenzie River with the Pure Water Partnership. The Red crew finished their season at the Biocycle Farm and partnered with the Nature Conservancy in the Columbia Basin for invasive plant removal. The Tribal Stewards crew, comprised of students from the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, OR, also began their program. After finishing classes on May 24th, eight participants joined the Eugene headquarters for orientation before starting trail work at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. This crew will continue until July 20th, graduating alongside five other youth crews launching in June. Oregon Program Leader Amanda Wallace says, “We were incredibly fortunate to have worked

Oregon:   Oregon’s spring young adult blue crew started the month with two weeks of work along the McKenzie River with the Pure Water Partners (PWP). Northwest Youth Corps has worked with Pure Water Partners to restore habitat that was destroyed by the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire since PWP’s inception. Blue crew later served with the Siuslaw National Forest, where they improved recreational facilities for a week. For the final two weeks of April the crew served with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department at Cape Falcon State Park where they restored tread along the Oregon Coast Trail. Yellow crew started their month with the Medford Bureau of Land Management (BLM), rerouting the Upper Table Rock Trail. They then improved campsites and other developed recreation sites at the Eel Creek Campground with the Siuslaw National Forest. They spent one week with Oregon Equestrian Trails brushing and widening their trail system. And for the last two weeks of April, Yellow crew removed Russian olive, black locust, and other invasive tree species with the Army Corps of Engineers at Irrigon Parks and Recreation District.   Orange crew began their month working with the City of Springfield at The Biocycle Farm, planting and maintaining poplar trees that will eventually

Oregon: This month, Northwest Youth Corps’ (NYC) newest program, the Urban Community Forestry (UCF) program, has worked long days cutting, hauling and chipping debris left over from the devastating ice storm that hit Eugene and the lower McKenzie River Valley from January 13th-17th. Their worksites have included many local parks in Eugene and Springfield as well as residential areas that were hit particularly hard. Many of these community parks and recreation spaces have been closed off to the public do to the dangerous scattered debris. Though this storm clean up can be monotonous and grueling work, the crews have kept after it, often returning to NYC’s headquarters at the end of a long day tired but propped up by enormous gratitude from the community.  One UCF crew was assigned to assist with park cleanup efforts at the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum and Howard Buford Recreation Area. With help from local volunteers and Mt. Pisgah staff, these parks were able to reopen March 15th. Members of the public were thrilled to see the parks reopened, and their enthusiasm helped to keep the crew’s morale high as they cleaned up the final section of the parking lot. Most of the work was chipping