Young Adult Program

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.

job skills focus

Position Overview

  • Participants work on physically demanding conservation projects in all kinds of weather and terrain.
  • 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 during work and camp activities (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. (We also provide day programs. See Urban and Community Forestry and Community Wildfire Protection Corps.)
  • 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.

Leadership Development Program (LDP) crews, which provide leadership training opportunities to those interested in pursuing employment with Northwest Youth Corps or other similar outdoor programs. See LDP.

This is tough work. We work in all weather and our projects are hands-on. We value community, connection with others, and mutual support. All training is provided, and you do not need prior experience to apply. If you haven’t had access to the outdoors but are interested in learning, come join us; this land is your land. 

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 an AmeriCorps Education Award upon the successful completion of the program. Pay varies by program. See individual postings 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.

2025 Dates
YA Camping Crews (Idaho, Oregon, Washington):

Spring – Mar. 3rd-May 16th

Summer – Jun. 6th-Aug. 15th

Winter – Sep. 3rd-Nov. 14th

Leadership Development Crews-Oregon:

Apr. 9th-Aug. 30th (off May 30th-Jun. 6th)

Leadership Development Crews-Washington:

Jun. 6th-Aug. 15th

*Community Wildfire Protection Corps Crews (Oregon Only):

Hitch Crew:

Feb. 17th-May 2nd (Camping Monday-Thursday)

Strike Crew:

Feb. 17th-May 2nd

(*Some day program and camping hybrid positions available. See CWPC or UCF.)

Oregon Crews

Washington Crews

Idaho Crews

Scroll to Top