How to Join the Youth Conservation Corps

The Youth Conservation Corps is the youth division of the National Parks Service and leads the nation in programs that introduce young people to conservation in our National Parks. Established in 1970, the Youth Conservation Corps provides educational and team-building skills and trains future workers for agencies specializing in land management. Read on to learn how to join the Youth Conservation Corps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine if you are a person between the ages of 15 and 18 who enjoys working outside and is looking for short-term summer employment.
2. Understand that the Youth Conservation Corps, or YCC, is for hard working young people. If you are not prepared to spend the summer getting dirty and tired while learning valuable skills in beautiful places, YCC work may not be for you.
3. Decide in which National Parks you would be interested in working.
4. Call the Youth Programs Division in Washington D.C. at [phone] to find out more about the YCC and what is available.
5. Visit the YCC website for your state or region or call the office nearest you at the phone number listed on the National Parks Website.
6. Fill out an application for a YCC job in you area or for a residential program. Currently there are two residential programs in the National Parks Service. One is at Yellowstone National Park and the other is at Yosemite National Park.

Tips & Warnings

• YCC jobs are usually filled by lottery, so getting your application in on time is very important. Should you miss a deadline, most offices may still take your application and use you to fill vacancies that might come up.

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