YCC crew working on fencing at Petrified Tree (26592098663)

YCC-AZCC North Kaibab Ranger District 2016 (43036286364)

The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a paid summer youth work program in federally managed lands. The

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...

US Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency inc ...

US Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

and

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands. Headquartered in Washington DC, and with oversight over , it governs one eighth of the country's la ...

employ teens each summer to participate in the YCC. The YCC has introduced young Americans to conservation opportunities in public lands since the program was created in 1970. In the late seventies and early eighties the program included a grant-in-aid component that funded state and local YCC projects nationwide. This element fell to 1982 budget cuts, but several states continued the effort with their own funds. Some employees currently working in land management agencies were introduced to their profession through the YCC. Youth Conservation Corps members work in public lands restoring, rehabilitating, and repairing the natural, cultural, and historical resources protected as federally preserved places. Some examples of work completed each season by Youth Conservation Corps are: * Historic Structure Preservation * Exotic Plant Removal * Fence Construction * Boundary Marking Signage * Boardwalk Repair * Wildlife Research Assistance * Anthropologic Research Assistance * Bridge Construction * Trail Construction * Campsite/Campground Restoration * Environmental Education Planning/Teaching * Habitat Preservation * IT Work * Visitor Use Assistance * Energy Retrofitting Participants are paid the established federal minimum wage. Participants in states with a minimum wage higher than the federal are paid at the higher rate. Youth Conservation Corps programs are conducted for 4–10 weeks during the summer. Participants must be between 15–18 years old at the start of the program, though the age limits can vary locally. Most YCC programs are non-residential; however the National Park Service does have one residential program at

Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park is an American national park located in the western United States, largely in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the 42nd U.S. Congress with the Yellowston ...

. Select Forest Service units offer residential programs as well. The Youth Conservation Corps focuses on conservation and community. These are some of the aspects they focus on: * How the work projects benefits the site or the overall environment. * Appreciating and understanding the nation’s environmental and historic heritage. * Gaining an understanding and appreciation of Ecosystems and Community. Recruitment for the YCC within the

is done at individual sites participating in the program. The

webpage: provides information about how to enroll in the Youth Conservation Corps. Applications may be found on the NPS webpage and must be sent to parks of interest by April 15. Enrollees are selected without regard to civil service or classification laws, rules or regulation. The Forest Service operates a consolidated application process through the web.Youth Conservation Corps
.

United States Forest Service The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency inc ...

YCC is a partnership between the US Department of Interior and US Department of Agriculture established by Public Law 93-408. Since its inception, the YCC has worked with many conservation agencies throughout the country to provide educational and team building skills to young people through participation in work projects.

References

External links

Youth Conservation Corps
at the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

{{Authority control National Park Service United States Forest Service United States Fish and Wildlife Service Nature conservation organizations based in the United States 1970 establishments in the United States