Northwest Youth Corps

Crew Launches and Graduations: All Young Adult Camping Crews across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho completed their fall session and graduated on November 14 after spending ten weeks working on trails, habitat restoration, riparian planting, and forest stewardship projects throughout the region. With these crews graduated, we now have just one camping crew, the Community Wildfire Protection Corps (CWPC) Hitch Crew, whose term of service will end December 12, along with our Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Crews. In November, we also launched several new community-based crews that will run through the winter. In addition to our UCF Crews, our Long-form UCF Crews began their sessions on November 3, followed by the launch of our Long-form CWPC Crew on November 10. These long-form crews are community crews, meaning they return home each night and do not camp during their projects. They will continue working through the cold months on community forestry, fuels reduction, and wildfire resilience projects, and will graduate on May 1. The Long-form UCF Crews are based out of Eugene, Boise, and Tacoma, while the Long-form CWPC Crew is based out of Applegate, Oregon.  Oregon: Young adult camping crews Blue Crew (YA 29) began November at Lost Creek Lake

Oregon: The Community Wildfire Protection Corps Crew focused on wildfire fuels reduction throughout southern Oregon, partnering with Applegate Fire District No. 9 and Jackson County Fire District No. 3. Their work aims to reduce hazardous fuels, create defensible space, and strengthen local wildfire resilience. By thinning vegetation and clearing brush around critical areas, the crew helped protect homes and community infrastructure while gaining hands-on experience in fire prevention techniques. Urban and Community Forestry crews also spent October working across western Oregon to strengthen local urban forests through partnerships with public agencies and community organizations. Orange Crew (YACom 9) and Blue Crew (YACom 8) began the month with the Willamalane Park and Recreation District, where they inventoried trees across developed parks in Springfield neighborhoods. The data collected will help inform management decisions, species selection, and future planting priorities. Later in the month, Blue Crew partnered with Lane County Parks to restore the native floodplain forest along the Crilly Trail at Armitage Park. The crew removed invasive blackberry, English ivy, and traveler’s joy to improve habitat quality and enhance the self-guided trail experience for park visitors. Both Blue and Orange Crews also worked with Friends of Trees on multiple community planting and

Oregon: Blue Crew (YA 29) began their session with chainsaw training before heading to the Umatilla National Forest, where they worked alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The crew removed invasive vegetation to improve visibility and reduce wildfire fuel loads, combining their new technical training with habitat restoration to promote long-term forest health. Yellow Crew (YA 30) trained in trail construction and maintenance before partnering with the National Park Service at Mount Rainier National Park and later the Siuslaw National Forest at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. At Mount Rainier, they brushed and improved tread along the West Boundary Trail, helping make the steep route safer for hikers. Later, at the Oregon Dunes, they installed new kiosk boards at off-highway vehicle access points, replacing outdated signage and improving visitor education across the shifting coastal landscape. Washington: Red Crew (YA 33) kicked off their season with trails training before joining the National Park Service at Mount Rainier National Park. The crew brushed and repaired tread along the iconic Wonderland Trail, helping maintain access and prevent erosion on the steep, scenic path that circles the base of Mount Rainier. Orange Crew (YA 34) also trained at Mount Rainier before partnering

Oregon: young adult camping crews Red Crew (YA 16) worked with the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group at Caddis Creek in the South Fork Toutle River watershed. They completed 22 beaver dam analogs, improving fish habitat and advancing stream restoration efforts. Yellow Crew (YA 17) partnered with the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest on invasive plant removal, then joined The Nature Conservancy at Cascade Head to remove invasive blackberry. Their work supported restoration of this rare coastal prairie, which has historically been maintained by fire and grazing. Orange Crew (YA 18) partnered with Trout Unlimited at Deerhorn Creek to construct beaver dam analogs that slow water flow and restore riparian ecosystems. The next week, they joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at John Day Dam to complete brushing projects. Blue Crew (YA 19) began the month of August in the Drift Creek Wilderness of the Siuslaw National Forest, brushing Horse Creek North Trail and improving tread with hand tools. Later, they headed to the Hebo Ranger District to restore the Pioneer–Indian Trail, which begins at Hebo Lake Campground and extends more than 20 miles through the forest. youth camping crews Red Crew (YCC 21) began the month of August on

Oregon: young adult camping crews Red Crew (YA 16) began July at Lone Pine Campground with the Roseburg Bureau of Land Management (BLM), where they completed campground maintenance and trail log-out work. In their second and third weeks of the month, they moved to the Mount Hood National Forest to focus on log-out projects, then traveled to the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forest to continue trail maintenance, brushing, and addressing loose rock. Yellow Crew (YA 17) started the month with Oregon Parks and Recreation District staff at L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, rehabilitating trails and maintaining park facilities. Their next two weeks took them to the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area with the Burns District Bureau of Land Management, where they cleared back vegetation and improved trail conditions. In their fourth week, they partnered with The Nature Conservancy at Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, constructing 0.3 miles of fence across the preserve to manage habitat for native species. They closed the month at Trout Creek with the Powder Basin Watershed Council, installing Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) to improve stream health and riparian habitat. Orange Crew (YA 18) spent the first three weeks in the Mount Hood National Forest, where they worked

Oregon: young adult camping crews June 4 – august 15 Yellow Crew (YA 17) began their session brushing trails in the Blue Ridge Trail System with the Coos Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In their second week, they moved to Lone Pine Campground to help re-establish the site by removing vegetation, leveling tent pads, installing fencing, and setting up recreation infrastructure. Their third week took them to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, where they focused on invasive plant removal to support native habitat. Orange Crew (YA 18) spent their first week at Zumwalt Prairie Preserve with The Nature Conservancy. Their work included building and removing barbed wire fencing and conducting weed surveys with GIS mapping apps to identify invasive plant species. For the next two weeks, the crew traveled to Fish Creek, Idaho, where they partnered with the University of Idaho and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR) to clear trails and downed trees in support of stream monitoring efforts in timber harvest lands. Blue Crew (YA 19) spent all three weeks in the Mt. Hood National Forest restoring the Ruckel Creek Trail, which had been closed since the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The crew camped at

Oregon: young adult camping crews Red Crew (YA 6) partnered with Pure Water Partners during their two active weeks in May to remove invasive species along properties bordering the McKenzie River. Their efforts included hand-pulling and tool-based removal using loppers and shovels. Multiple crews carried out this partnership over the course of the Spring session, which supported local landowners and advanced long-term ecological recovery in an area historically affected by wildfire. Yellow Crew (YA 7) began May working alongside Blue Crew in Yacolt Burn State Forest. Partnering with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR), they repaired trail tread, brushed overgrown corridors, and completed campground maintenance. For their final week, the crew traveled to a fence restoration project at The Nature Conservancy’s Juniper Hills Preserve. There, they built and repaired fencing, maintained elk and deer enclosures, and removed outdated barriers to help restore wildlife movement. Orange Crew (YA 8) stayed in Medford, continuing their forest thinning projects as part of our Community Wildfire Protection Corps. Equipped with chainsaws and a wood chipper, they managed excess vegetation for rural homeowners in need of support. This work supports wildfire mitigation efforts and prepares rural communities for the summer fire season. Blue

Oregon: young adult camping crews Red Crew (YA 6) kicked off April partnering with the Bureau of Land Management at the Wood River Wetland. Their work focused on maintaining native vegetation and public access: they caged young cottonwoods and willows, landscaped a pollinator garden, cleared overgrown vegetation from an ADA-accessible trail, and spread mulch across key areas. Tools included fencing pliers, hacksaws, wire cutters, loppers, shovels, and brush cutters. Later in the month, they shifted west to the Siuslaw National Forest’s Central Coast Ranger District. There, they joined efforts to remove invasive Scotch broom along Siltcoos Access Road, helping to restore balance to the coastal ecosystem. The team used weed wrenches, hand saws, and loppers to complete the project. Yellow Crew (YA 7) spent the first part of April restoring oak savanna habitat at Coburg Ridge Preserve, just outside of Springfield. Partnering with The Nature Conservancy, they targeted invasive plants like false brome and thistle using a mix of hori hori knives, weed wrenches, loppers, and brush cutters. For their final weeks, the crew traveled north to Yacolt Burn State Forest, working with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA DNR). At Three Corner Rock Trail and Dougan Creek Campground,

Oregon: young adult camping program Red Crew (YA 6) began their first week at Silver Falls State Park. Partnering with Oregon State Parks, they focused on trail restoration efforts essential for the state’s outdoor recreation economy. They worked on dry-stacked rock walls, improved drainage, and repaired trail tread. Using hazel hoes and grubbers, they focused on moving large rocks and using mortar to build the rock wall. After two weeks, they traveled north to Rock Creek Campground in Yacolt Burn State Forest. Partnering with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, they tackled a range of trail maintenance projects. They brushed and cleared the Tarbell Trail, and laid new gravel on the trail before installing a new manure bin. They also rotated a horse mounting box, repaired wooden horse corrals, patched concrete picnic pads, and assembled new picnic tables. For their final week of March, they brushed the Silver Shadow Trail, making it safer for hikers and horseback riders. The crew used extra high-reach saws, brush cutters, and string trimmers. Yellow Crew (YA 7) kicked off March at Cascade Head, partnering with The Nature Conservancy to restore habitat along a coastal trail corridor. They cleared overgrown vegetation, removing salmonberry, elderberry,

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