Youth Urban and Community Forestry

Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) crews help create robust urban forests that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health and well-being.

Urban and Community Forest Program Overview:

Youth Conservation Corps crews–for individuals ages 15-18–will participate in a five-week day program format, working Monday-Friday with weekends off. Summer Youth Conservation crews will average 32 hours per week working on urban forestry projects and eight hours a week engaged in education and training. Each crew will have eight youth members and two adult crew leaders. Participants will receive a stipend, industry recognized credentials, develop 21st Century work skills, and be eligible to receive high school credit.

NYC crews will be helping in the assessment of current tree canopy and engaging community members to have trees planted and maintained on their properties. Crews will also be leading Saturday service projects encouraging neighborhood involvement. Additional crews will care for trees within green stormwater infrastructure bioswales used for storm water detention and treatment.

Join the urban and community forestry program

Northwest Youth Corps’ Urban and Community Forestry crews integrate team-based work projects, education, and professional trainings into a program that encourages personal growth and the development of resource management skills.

job skills focus

position overview

2025 crew details

UCF Crew members gain real world experience while enhancing their community’s natural environment. Through a focus on local projects, Crew members will become more connected and invested with the area in which they live and can take pride in the benefits they create for these areas. 

UCF integrates team-based work projects, education, and on-site vocational training into an experience that prioritizes personal growth, and the development of conservation work skills. Participants will develop technical skills working on a variety of conservation projects while developing the soft skills needed to be successful in any work setting.

A critical element of the program is the educational curriculum that accompanies the experience. The curriculum is based around preparing the next generation of stewardship leaders to work in the outdoor industry. Lessons range from group dynamics and environmental policy to stewardship and resource management. The education experience is seminar based and requires inquisitive group participation. As a part of the inclusive experience each member will be responsible for presenting lessons during the program.

Crew members can use this opportunity as a steppingstone towards starting a career in an outdoor field such as natural resource management, outdoor recreation, forestry, or working for other environmental nonprofits. Others, who may not be interested in working in the green jobs sector, can use this work experience as a chance to gain easily transferable job skills, travel to new places, meet new people, and spend weeks making a real difference in their community.

2025 youth ucf dates

Idaho: 

Session 1: Jun. 2nd-Jul. 3rd

Session 2: Jul. 8th-Aug. 8th

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Oregon: 

Session 1: Jun. 23rd-Jul. 25th

Session 2: Jul. 22nd-Aug. 22nd

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Washington: 

Session 1: Jun. 23rd-Jul. 25th

Session 2: Jul. 29th-Aug. 29th

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Location:

All crews’ projects will take place in their respective community: Boise, ID; Eugene, OR; Tacoma, WA. This is a day program. Local housing is not provided.

Members Receive:

The base stipend is $96.00 a day (up to a possible $480.00 weekly stipend)

  • Plus $20.00 weekly Dependability Bonus
  • Plus $20.00 weekly Safety Bonus

Participants leaving the program before graduation will receive a prorated portion of this stipend, calculated to the nearest full day of work, but will forfeit all bonuses.

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