CYCA Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scope of youth corps operations in the state?

What is CYCA’s relationship to the 11 youth corps around the state?

How is CYCA funded?

What is accreditation and how does that process ensure quality programming?

Is there an income or “at-risk” eligibility requirement for youth participants?

How do youth corps recruit youth participants?

How do youth corps differ from other environmentally based youth programs?

What is the scope of youth corps operations in the state?

There are 11 local and regional independently operated youth corps in the state serving 680 youth annually. Only 5 of these programs, serving about 210 primarily urban youth, were in operation in 1997 prior to the launch of CYCA. Subsequently CYCA established four additional programs. Youth corps programs are now in operation in Steamboat Springs, Ft. Collins, Greeley, Boulder, Denver, Durango, the eastern plains, the San Luis and Upper Arkansas Valleys, the seven-county southern Front Range region, and Grand Junction. By 2008, youth corps will serve 1,000 youth in the state. [Back to top]

What is CYCA’s relationship to the 11 youth corps around the state?

CYCA works to support the network of independently operating youth corps programs but does not manage any of the youth corps directly. CYCA provides a number of services to the programs with the goal of enhancing ability to provide quality services to youth participants and project sponsors. CYCA offers technical assistance and resource development services to programs and manages the youth corps accreditation process with the goal of maintaining the quality and sustainability of programs statewide. [Back to top]

How is CYCA funded?

CYCA is funded through a variety of sources including national foundations, private philanthropic institutions, the Colorado Commission on National and Community Service, and Great Outdoors Colorado. CYCA incorporates an entrepreneurial contracting system between state agencies and the local corps programs to fund a portion of CYCA’s operational costs as well as up to 30%-60% of a local corps program costs. [Back to top]

What is accreditation and how does that process ensure quality programming?

The CYCA Accreditation process ensures that youth corps programs provide a consistent level of high quality programming and services to youth participants and project sponsors. Major areas for review include service projects and program structure, corpsmembers and corpsmember development, and program management and administration. The Accreditation process involves a self-assessment of the program, a peer site visit, and review by the CYCA Board of Directors. Only CYCA-Accredited programs can receive project contracts through CYCA. [Back to top]

Is there an income or “at-risk” eligibility requirement for youth participants?

No! The only eligibility requirement involves age. In general, youth corps recruit 16-25 year-olds, but several programs operate “Junior Corps” of 14 and 15 year olds. All of the programs strive to engage both “at-risk” and “mainstream” youth in their programs in order to balance the crews and provide a level of diversity. Many programs also recruit from specific populations, for example, Native Americans. [Back to top]

How do youth corps recruit youth participants?

Programs recruit youth from a number of different sources including schools, community groups, religious institutions, and other local youth-serving organizations. A majority of the youth come from the local communities in which they serve. On average youth corps receive twice as many applications as positions available. [Back to top]

How do youth corps differ from other environmentally based youth programs?

Youth corps are not recreation programs or typical environmental education programs. Colorado youth corps use the employment experience, through environmental and conservation-based projects, as the means of providing a structured, disciplined environment where young people gain on-the-job skills, learn self-discipline, leadership skills, how to receive direction and how to work in teams. The youth work in adult-supervised crews, in full or part-time work on projects ranging from forestry and parks projects to services in urban parks, renovating houses, and assisting in human service agencies. Each corps program allocates between 10% - 20% of their time to education – including environmental education, pre-GED, GED, college credit courses, and life management skill development. [Back to top]