Gain certifications and work experience needed to open career pathways. Play a vital role in improving our public lands and the environment!
Our Young Adult Program will provide you with hands-on training and experience needed to work on physically challenging conservation projects. Typical projects include tree planting, fuels reduction, invasive plant removal, trail construction, and fencing. Evenings are spent on related educational and recreational activities. Prepare to graduate with sore muscles, awesome technical skills, solid job references, and an AmeriCorps living allowance and education award.
Many members use this opportunity as a steppingstone towards starting a career in 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, use this work experience as a chance to gain easily transferable job skills, travel to new places, meet new people, and spend weeks immersed in the beautiful nature of the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
Join our Young Adult conservation crews
Northwest Youth Corps’ young adult conservation crews integrate team-based work projects, education, and professional trainings into a program that stresses personal growth and the development of resource management skills.
- For Ages 19+
- Duration 9-10 weeks
- receive up to $551 per week, plus $1,718 AmeriCorps Education Award
job skills focus
Position Overview
- Participants work on physically demanding conservation projects in all kinds of weather and terrain.
- Our program is a highly structured immersive experience, in an environment that does not allow for much independent time away from the crew, time in “civilization,” or access to electrical power.
- We focus intentionally on the concept of community within our crews, which means we focus on being present with one another and do not use cell phones until after 8PM each evening (we intentionally “unplug”).
- Participants engage in many group activities each day to help the crew function, including meal prep, water treatment, and tool maintenance, followed by a family-style dinner and formal educational sessions.
- Participants are actively mentored and empowered by their leader and expected to take on increasing leadership roles within the crew, including acting as a “leader of the day/week” by the end of the program.
Through these challenging and rewarding experiences, our programs consistently help members become resilient, disciplined, empathetic and strong. A high value is placed upon interpersonal dynamics and the development of robust workplace skillsets.
Benefits
Members receive a living allowance along with a AmeriCorps Education Award upon the successful completion of the program. See individual postings on application for specific amounts.
This is an AmeriCorps position. AmeriCorps members complete paid terms of national community service to address our nation’s most pressing issues. As an AmeriCorps member you will receive a living allowance prorated throughout your term of service, along with earning an AmeriCorps Education Award. Learn more about additional AmeriCorps benefits here.
Oregon Crews
Dates
Fall: 8/30 – 11/10/23
Location: Based out of Eugene, OR. Crews camp together onsite for their entire session, so local housing is not required. Project locations generally include national forests, national and local parks, and wilderness areas.
Washington Crews
Dates
Fall: 8/30 – 11/3/23
Location: Based out of Tacoma (spring/fall crews) or Leavenworth, WA (near Lake Wenatchee). Crews camp together onsite for their entire session so local housing is not required. Project locations generally include national forests, national parks, and wilderness areas throughout Washington.
Idaho Crews
Dates
Fall: 8/30 – 11/3/23
Location: Based out of our Idaho Conservation Corps branch in Boise, ID. Crews camp together onsite for their entire session so local housing is not required. Project locations generally include national forests, national parks, and wilderness areas throughout Idaho.