Field News Recap- End of Summer 2025
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 Kaldor Island with the Eugene Water & Electric Board, then moved to the Bonneville Lock and Dam with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove invasive vegetation. They closed out the Summer session with the Wild Rivers Ranger District on invasive plant removal projects and trail maintenance.
Yellow Crew (YCC 22) worked in the Mount Hood National Forest on logout and trail-clearing projects. In mid-August, they joined the Hebo Ranger District to remove invasives and maintain sections of the Pioneer–Indian Trail, which begins at Hebo Lake and traverses the forest for 20 miles.
Blue Crew (YCC 23) partnered with the Coos Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to perform invasive plant removal at Woodward Creek, followed by habitat restoration projects at Fishermen’s Bend Recreation Site with the Northwest Oregon BLM. They wrapped up the summer session in the Mount Hood National Forest, taking on logout and trail-clearing projects.
youth community crews
Yellow Crew (YCom 15 – Portland) partnered with Friends of Trees, Dharma Rain Zen Center, and Columbia Slough Watershed Council throughout their session. Their work included invasive vegetation removal in neighborhoods near Southern Lites Park, at Dharma Rain, and along walking paths near NE 166th and Airport Way, improving green spaces and restoring native habitats in Portland.
Orange Crew (YCom 16 – Portland) focused on urban habitat restoration with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council and the Kindness Farm. They removed invasive vegetation from Wilkes Creek Natural Area and supported sustainable agriculture projects at the Kindness Farm through invasive plant removal and site maintenance.
Brown Crew (YCom 17 – Eugene) worked with the City of Springfield on several sites, including Mill Race Path and Jasper Pond. They removed blackberry from fence lines, hauled and loaded vegetation for disposal, and improved local trails and green spaces.
Blue Crew (YCom 18 – Eugene UCF) began the session with Friends of Trees on weeding and mulching projects, then partnered with the Willamalane Park and Recreation District at Doris Ranch, Willamette Heights Park, and the Mill Race Path to complete wildfire fuels reduction projects. They wrapped up at Howard Buford Recreation Area with Friends of Buford Park and Mount Pisgah, where they combined invasive plant removal with community outreach, including an education table for visitors.
Red Crew (YCom 19 – Eugene UCF) partnered with Eugene Parks, McKenzie River Trust, and Dorena Genetic Resource Center. Their projects included invasive removal at Golden Gardens Park, trail clearing and invasive removal near Splash! at Lively Park, nursery maintenance at Dorena’s greenhouses, and additional invasive removal and outreach with Friends of Buford Park and Mount Pisgah, who set up an informational booth alongside the crew’s service.
Washington:
young adult crews
Red Crew (YA 20) worked with the Cascade Forest Conservancy on Weyerhauser Timberlands in the Salmon Creek area. Their projects included building beaver dam analogs and post-assisted log structures, installing posts, and branch stuffing to strengthen instream habitat.
Orange Crew (YA 21) began the month of August in the Evan’s Creek Off-Highway Vehicle Area with Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, where they completed tread hardening and widening, and water bar installation. Later, they moved to Mount Rainier National Park to brush trails, complete tread work and rockwork, and reroute sections of the Wonderland Trail for better accessibility.
Yellow Crew (YA 22) served the entirety of August at Mount Rainier National Park on the Wonderland Trail, where they completed 1,750 feet of tread work, brushed 0.4 miles of trail, and built a 200-foot reroute to improve the user experience.
youth camping crews
Blue Crew (YCC 27) worked at multiple Olympic National Forest locations in the beginning of August. At Sol Duc Valley, they brushed 1.25 miles of trail and performed maintenance on two acres of campsites. At Lena Creek Campground, they brushed 0.5 miles of trail and cleared campground space. They later headed to Lewis and Clark National Historical Park for invasive plant removal, tackling Scotch broom removal on 2 acres pf land and purple loosestrife on 10 acres of land.
Red Crew (YCC 28) partnered with Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve and North Cascades National Park. Their work included garden bed construction, native seed harvesting, mule pasture maintenance, trail work, and invasive vegetation removal. They closed the summer session with projects in the Quinault area, completing brushing and drainage work, and in the Olympic National Forest, where they installed drainage structures and improved trails.
Gray Crew (YCC 29) worked with Whidbey Camano Land Trust on trail drainage structures, then moved to Celilo Park with the US Army Corps of Engineers to remove invasive species, hauling out 94 bags of Himalayan blackberry and false indigo. Later, they headed to the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest to brush 4,490 feet of trail at Chiwaukum Creek Trailhead, and wrapped up in Methow Valley with Salmon Recovery crews, brushing 2,240 feet of trail and completing habitat restoration projects.
Yellow Crew (YCC 30) partnered with the Olympic National Park. At Heart O’ the Hills Campground, they brushed 3,817 feet of trail and removed noxious weeds from 5,000 square feet of land. At Ozette Lake, they led a beach cleanup, hauling 16 bags of trash and debris from the shoreline.
youth community crews
Blue Crew (YCom 20 – Sound to Summit) served with Port of Tacoma, Parks Tacoma, South Sound Wildlife Area, and Mount Rainier National Park during their session. Their projects included removing Himalayan blackberry, ivy, and St. John’s wort across multiple sites for the Port of Tacoma; maintaining planting areas and watering 668 trees with the South Sound Wildlife Area; and brushing Carter Falls and Comet Falls Trails at Mount Rainier, where they also built a retaining wall to prevent erosion.
Red Crew (YCom 21 – Sound to Summit) partnered with the City of Lacey and Capitol Land Trust. At Lake Lois Habitat Reserve, they completed park cleanup and invasive plant removal, then worked at Inspiring Kids Reserve and Twin Rivers Ranch to remove weeds, maintain 525 seedlings, and hauled 10 bags of invasive vegetation. They also joined their fellow Sound to Summit crew for brushing and trail work at Mount Rainier.
Yellow Crew (YCom 23 – UCF) partnered with Parks Tacoma, Dash Point State Park, and Pierce Conservation District. Their projects included invasive removal, trash cleanups, mulching, and site maintenance at Titlow and Swan Creek Parks, Pocket Farms, and Grandview Gardens. At Parks Tacoma Headquarters they cleared the headquarters property of invasive weeds.
Blue Crew (YCom 24 – UCF) removed invasives and maintained 1,800 trees on 0.48 acres at South Sound Wildlife Area, cleared 0.33 acres of weeds at Parks Tacoma, and inventoried trees with the Tacoma Tree Foundation. They wrapped up their session with invasive plant removal at Senator Rosa Franklin Park, including treatment of a creeping St. John’s Wort patch.
Idaho Conservation Corps:
young adult camping crews
All ICC crews are currently wearing yellow hard hats despite the crew names due to a supplier shortage.
Red Crew (YA 25) partnered with the Boise National Forest – Mountain Home Ranger District on fuels reduction projects to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.
Orange Crew (YA 26) partnered with Boise National Forest – Idaho City Ranger District to construct bridges, supporting trail access and safety for the public.
Blue Crew (YA 27) began the month working with Boise Bureau of Land Management (BLM), where they repaired barbed wire fencing and set up steel fencing to protect riparian habitat. Before wrapping up their session, they went to the Payette National Forest in the New Meadows and McCall Ranger Districts to conduct forest surveys.
youth camping crews
All ICC crews are currently wearing yellow hard hats despite the crew names due to a supplier shortage.
Blue Crew (YCC 16) served in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and on trails managed by Idaho Fish and Game. These projects included trail clearing in the West Fork Buckhorn Creek area.
Red Crew (YCC 17) partnered with Idaho Fish and Game on trails in the Salmon-Challis and Payette National Forests. Their projects included clearing the Six Mile Ridge Trail and Forty-Four Creek Trail to improve public access.
Orange Crew (YCC 18) partnered with the Idaho Panhandle National Forest to brush and maintain trails, later shifting to the Payette National Forest’s West Zone for fence removal near Buck Park Cabin on Cuddy Mountain.
youth community crews
All ICC crews are currently wearing yellow hard hats despite the crew names due to a supplier shortage.
Red Crew (YCom 13) partnered with Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, focusing on invasive plant removal to improve habitat for the area’s native species.
Blue Crew (YCom 14) worked with Nampa Parks and Recreation, completing pruning projects that improved the health and safety of local green spaces.
Internship Program Spotlights
Natural Resource Steward AmeriCorps Member, Anne M., pictured conducting an avian point count survey at Tanner Creek to monitor bird populations and assess migration patterns, digging a trench for a replacement culvert to improve drainage, and removing alder saplings growing along the wall of the auditorium at US Army Corps of Engineers – Bonneville Dam.
Interpretation & Education Intern, Jerrod H., promoting the Hagerman Fossil Beds at Idaho State University in Pocatello with a Park Ranger and educating visitors about bears in the area at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument.
Special Uses Resource Assistant, Kylie S., sawing a log on a trail in the Sky Lakes Wilderness, where they bucked over 130 downed trees, in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.