Submitted by the Youth Conservation Corps

The Youth Conservation Corps provides conservation and stewardship summer programs in the San Juan Islands for youth ages 12-18. The 8-week program will run from the end of June through mid-August 2021, providing an excellent resource for kids and families. We are now accepting applications for youth crew members for 10-person crews on Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan Island.

The YCC is an opportunity for youth to not only spend the summer outdoors learning about local conservation and stewardship efforts, but actually improving wilderness areas across the islands. Youth work closely with trained field guides, conservation professionals, and partner education programs on stewardship/restoration projects, inquiry-based experiential outdoor education, technical field skill-building, and professional development. In doing so, YCC members gain job skills, a small cash stipend, and training that can help propel them into their future.

YCC Crew Members are asked to exhibit a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and love for the outdoors. On any given day, crew members may be involved in trail building, forest thinning, endangered species habitat restoration, invasive weed removal, native planting, and learning about the broader impacts and science behind each activity. YCC crews improve the health of our youth as well as the health of our environment which in turn leads to a healthy and balanced sustainable future.

The application deadline is May 21 and all information is available on the San Juan Islands Conservation District website

For more information, visit www.sanjuanislandscd.org/ycc or contact YCC Program Coordinator Kelsey Kittleson at Kelsey@sjicd.org.