Conservation Corps
Building America since 1933 .....
Corps Program Overviews
California Conservation Corps (CCC) 1976 - Present
"Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions..... and more"
The California Conservation Corps is the oldest and largest state conservation corps program in the nation. Modeled after the original federal Civilian Conservation Corps created in 1933, today's California program was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on July 7, 1976. Governor Brown envisioned the program as "a combination Jesuit seminary, Israeli kibbutz and Marine Corps boot camp." From a small beginning, the CCC has grown to its current size with 27 residential and nonresidential locations throughout the state. More than 110,000 young men and women have participated in the CCC, with approximately 3,000 hired each year. More about the CCC Program
Coconino Rural Environmental Corps (CREC) 1996 - Present
"Promoting stewardship, encouraging personal development and carrying on the tradition
of the Civilian Conservation Corps with hard work, dedication and pride"
The Coconino Rural Environment Corps was originally established in 1996 as a cooperative partnership between the US Forest Service and Coconino County, Arizona. CREC has been under the direction of Coconino County's Community Services Department since 1999 and through direct, hands-on service, corpsmembers implement projects for virtually all of Arizona's public land managers and conservation agencies. Each CREC Corpsmember receives extensive work-skills training and conservation education. CREC has an estimated fiscal year 2011 budget of $3.2 Million. The Coconino Rural Environment Corps mission "promotes stewardship by implementing a variety of conservation and service initiatives; encourages personal development through a combination of training, work experience, and educational opportunities; and carries on the tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps with hard work, dedication, and pride". More about the CREC Program
Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) 1987 - Present
The Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB) is a nonprofit, certified local conservation corps, one of 12 certified local conservation corps in California. Established in 1987, the CCLB is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. For each of the last 23 years, the CCLB has hired more than 200 at-risk youth each year from the area served by the Greater Long Beach Workforce Development Board to work on projects developed by the CCLB for local cities, county agencies, and other nonprofit agencies in the greater Long Beach area. The mission of the Conservation Corps of Long Beach is "to raise self-esteem, develop basic work skills, work ethics, and education, and promote teamwork for Long Beach area-at-risk youth through a combination of work, conservation, and education ". More about the CCLB Program
Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador (CCNL) 1992 - Present
Founded in 1992 by the Provincial Government's Economic Recovery Commissionto increase quality employment, training and career development opportunities for youth. Over the past 20 years the CCNL has hired more than 2,000 youth and completed over 400 projects in more than 135 communities. Activities of the organization focus on fostering partnerships to deliver community based projects related to environmental and cultural heritage conservation to mutually benefit all involved.
Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) 1982 - Present
"A path to a better future"
Founded in 1982, Conservation Corps North Bay (originally the Marin Conservation Corps) was the nation's first local nonprofit conservation corps. Over the years, CCNB has flourished, becoming a national leader in the local corps movement. Since its inception, CCNB has helped 5,000 young men and women break the cycle of poverty while serving the environment and community. In all, Conservation Corps of North Bay volunteers and corpsmembers have performed nearly three million hours of work on 150,000 acres of public lands. CCNB's mission is to "develop youth and conserve natural resources for a strong, sustainable Community". More about the CCNB program
Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC) 2007 - Present
“Be The Difference!”
Kupu, a 501(c)(3) Hawaii-based non-profit,was formed in 2007. Kupu exists because of a heart to serve. Kupu in Hawaiian means “to sprout, grow, germinate, or increase” and like the kupukupu fern. Kupu provides a home organization for the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps (HYCC), Urban Corps (UC), and Rewarding Internships for Sustainable Employment (RISE) Program. Through its various programs, Kupu aims to provide experiential education, as well as job training, leadership, teamwork, and life skills development opportunities to help youth and young adults succeed in life and encourages them to serve their communities. More about the HYCC Program
Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) 1986 - Present
The Los Angeles Conservation Corps was founded in 1986 and its primary mission is "to provide at-risk young adults and school-aged youth with opportunities for success through job skills training, education and work experience with an emphasis on conservation and service projects that benefit the community". Since the programs founding, LACC has become a national leader in youth and workforce development and alternative education for inner-city youth/young adults. LACC is currently the largest urban conservation corps in the nation with a full-time staff of over 150 employees who serve over 17,000 young people each year. More about the LACC program
National Civiilian Community Corps (NCCC) 1994 - Present
"Serving communities and country"
AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps engages teams of members in meaningful projects in communities across the United States. Service projects, which typically last from six to eight weeks, address critical needs related to natural and other disasters, infrastructure improvement, environmental stewardship and conservation, energy conservation, and urban and rural development. Members construct and rehabilitate low-income housing, respond to natural disasters, clean up streams, help communities develop emergency plans, and address countless other local needs. More about the NCCC program
Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) 1984 - Present
"Youth making a difference..."
Northwest Youth Corps was created in 1984 to offer teenagers an education-based, work experience modeled after the historic Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. In 1984, support from Oregon's forest products industry and grants from four northwest foundations, allowed NYC to start its' first program and serve 52 teens. Northwest that has provided opportunities to more than 14,000 young people since its establishment in 1984. The Northwest Youth Corps mission is to "offer a challenging education and job-training experience that helps youth and young adults develop the skills they need to lead full and productive lives". More about the NYC program
Orange County Conservation Corps (OCCC) 1993 - Present
"Earn...Learn...Serve.... Tools to Green the Future!"
The Orange County Conservation Corps is a 501(c)(3) founded in 1993 that offers a voluntary work and learn program providing opportunities for at-risk and disadvantaged youths, age 18 to 25. Corpsmembers earn a living while learning valuable employment skills through job training and attending OCCC's on-site charter school. The work projects for the corpsmembers are rewarding, environmentally-based and beneficial to the community. Funding is provided through the California Department of Conservation as well as individual and corporate contributions, grants, contracts and entrepreneurial projects. More about the OCCC Program
Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps (SRCC) 1984 - Present
"Proud young adults, learning, earning and serving"
The Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps is a non-profit organization serving Sacramento's young adults. SRCC was established in 1984 by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to provide an opportunity for educational achievement and paid work experience. The SRCC mission is "to enrich the lives of young adults by providing a development program integrating education, job skills training and work experience on conservation projects and service opportunities that benefit the region and our corps members". More about the SRCC program
SAGA 1986 - Present
"Improving lives, lands and communities in Alaska"
In 1986, four partners planted the seeds of SAGA to fill the gap created by the loss of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) and Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) in the Tongass National Forest. Three of the founders had been part of the False Island YACC program based out of Sitka, Alaska, and they were determined to keep the torch burning for future generations. With the support of the Juneau Ranger District and the Juneau School District, they created the Southeast Alaska Guidance Association as a private summer corps for Juneau youth. In the next few years SAGA became a non-profit corporation and has grown and changed to meet the needs of Alaska. Thousands of people have been part of the SAGA since 1986. "Improving Lives, Lands and Communities throughout Alaska" is the stated missison of SAGA. More about the SAGA program
San Francisco Conservation Corps (SFCC) 1983 - Present
The San Francisco Conservation Corps was founded in 1983 creating the first urban municipal youth corps in the nation. In that first year, 24 young adults joined the Corps. They received basic job training and worked on projects to conserve and improve San Francisco’s environment. Since 1983, over 4,800 young people have taken the challenge to become Corpsmembers, working 4.1 million hours on hundreds of landscaping, conservation, recycling and playground renovation projects to enhance the environment and communities of San Francisco. Throughout this work, thousands of Corpsmembers have gained academic, environmental and work skills. More about the SFCC program
Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) 1998 - Present
"Empowering individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment".
The Southwest Conservation Corps was founded as a non-profit agency in 1998, built upon the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, incorporates guiding principles of experiential learning, respect, openness and willingness, commitment, responsibility, pride, excellence, health and safety, and fun. SCC service projects take place throughout a three state region: Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Projects include fuels reduction, erosion control, tree planting, trail building, fencing and exotic plant removal. More about the SCC program
Student Conservation Association (SCA) 1957 – Present
"Conservation begins here"
Originally known as the Student Conservation Program, SCA began its first year of operation by placing 53 summer volunteers in Grand Teton and Olympic National Parks. Since 1957 over 50,000 individuals have served the nation through participation in SCA programs. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is often referred to as America’s conservation corps and annually approximitley 4,000 SCA members protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces in all 50 states. SCA's mission "is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land".
Urban Corps of San Diego (UCSD) 1989 - Present
"Learning, earning, and conserving since 1989"
The Urban Corps of San Diego County is a certified local conservation corps and charter school. The Urban Corps provides environmental job training and educational opportunities to more than 400 young people annually. Focusing on the life-changing impact of a good education, strong work ethic and service to one’s community, Urban Corps now contracts with nearly 300 sponsors—local government, non-profit organizations, businesses and corporations. These contracts make possible temporary employment and job training for Corpsmembers while supplying numerous services to our sponsors. Projects include Graffiti Abatement, Recycling, Environmental Projects and Urban Forestry. More about the UCSD program
Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) 1977 - 1982
The Young Adult Conservation Corps (YACC) was established by Public Law 95-93 and provided year-round jobs for unemployed and out-of-school young men and women, ages 16 through 23, in conservation work on national forests, national parks, fish hatcheries, wildlife refuges, and other public lands. The program was administered jointly by the Departments of Labor, Agriculture and Interior. YACC conducted both residential and non-residential work programs. Thirty percent of the available funds were used to support a grant program for States to conduct YACC projects on state and local public lands. There were two principle objectives of the YACC program - help alleviate the nation's youth unemployment problem and to accomplish needed conservation work on public lands. The YACC ceased operations in 1982 when federal funding was eliminated by Congress.
Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps (YHCC) 2009 -
Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps program is an opportunity to improve communities while enjoying Indiana’s beautiful outdoors. Participants working with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may revitalize historic buildings, create and rehabilitate trails and restore acres of natural habitat. Participants employed at Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) facilities may work in emergency cleanup, maintenance of traffic signs, equipment refurbishing and beautification of Indiana’s highway rest areas and interchanges.
Wyoming Conservation Corps (WCC) 2006 - Present
The mission of the Wyoming Conservation Corps is "to connect young adults with a diverse array of hands-on natural resource and environmental management experiences, and to promote leadership, through the completion of service projects that benefit lands in Wyoming." WCC is housed at the Haub School & Ruckelshaus Institute for Environment and Natural Resources on the campus of the University of Wyoming and serves both agencies working on public lands and industries interested in increasing their community involvement.
More to come ... under construction ........
Civilian Conservation Corps 1934
Young Adult Conservation Corps 1980
USFS Youth Conservation Corps 2000
Job Corps Conservation Center 1967
