About Youth Corps

What are Youth Corps?

Youth corps are crew-based employment and training programs for young people, typically ages 16-25. (Two programs in Colorado serve 14 and 15 year olds.) Based on the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s New Deal days, youth corps programs put their participants to task on labor-intensive conservation and stewardship projects, such as fencing, weed mitigation, park development, rehabilitation of sensitive riparian areas, and trail maintenance, in both urban and rural areas.

Youth corps members spend their summers, and sometimes up to six months, as part of 8-10 person, adult-supervised crews. Corpsmembers members earn at least minimum wage and work full-time. Crew composition is designated as:

Day Crews — youth are transported to their work site daily but return home each evening,

Camping Crews — youth camp on-site with vehicle support, often hiking to the project site,

Backcountry Crews — crews backpack to their campsite and project location, or

Specialty Crews —crews are qualified to work on projects that require a significantly higher skill level. For example, the work may require that the crew camp in the backcountry and work above tree line for one or more weeks, or the project may require chainsaw experience. Corpsmembers on specialty crews are often 18 years old or older.

Youth corps programs also incorporate project-specific environmental education, job-readiness training, team building, life skills and other basic education while building on the ethics of personal responsibility and civic pride. Eligible corpsmembers (17 years-old and older) can earn an AmeriCorps Education Award, typically $1,000 for a summer program, for use at college or trade school.

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An Investment in Colorado

Youth corps connect young people to their communities and their environment. They don’t just teach an appreciation of Colorado’s natural resources, they require a sweat and muscle investment from youth.

Youth corps:

  • conserve and protect Colorado’s natural resources;
  • educate Colorado’s young citizens;
  • deploy crews of 8-10 youth on conservation projects;
  • are well supervised and trained;
  • are locally operated and regionally responsive; and
  • operate throughout Colorado.

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Project Examples

  • Trail construction and maintenance
  • Habitat restoration
  • Tree planting and mulching
  • Fence construction and maintenance
  • Fire fuel reduction
  • Burned area rehabilitation
  • Riparian and wetland restoration

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On the Path of Lifelong Learning

Youth corps are about more than just work. Approximately 20% of each week is dedicated to lifelong learning, including;

  • environmental education;
  • GED preparation (if necessary);
  • high school or college credits;
  • AmeriCorps Education Awards (between $1,000 and $4,725) for use at colleges or trade schools;
  • money management and independent0-living skills; and/or
  • leadership, communication, and conflict resolution training.

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Citizen Service

Youth corps instill an ethic of citizen service, volunteerism, and civic participation in Colorado’s young residents. Corpsmembers work to improve the neighborhoods and trails that create the quality of life so many Coloradans value. After a youth corps experience, instead of asking “what did I do for me today?” corpsmembers ask “did I make a difference today?” And the answer is “yes” everyday!

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