When young people enroll in a Corps, they usually become a member of a crew. Each crew, consisting of about eight to twelve Corpsmembers, is led by a trained Crew Leader who acts as a mentor and teacher. At many Corps, enrollees are also paired with a counselor who helps them plan personal, career and academic goals.
Through classroom and field instruction, Corpsmembers can earn professional certifications and learn technical skills from their Crew Leaders, Corps staff members and outside organizations with which the Corps partners.
Corpsmembers practice their skills by engaging in community and environmental service projects designed to meet pressing local needs. By serving alongside their fellow crewmates to complete these projects, Corpsmembers build a sense of civic responsibility, gain hands-on work experience, and learn important lessons in teamwork, leadership and conflict resolution.
In return for their service, Corpsmembers receive a stipend or living allowance. Many Corps also provide Corpsmembers with a scholarship (see section on Education Awards) that can be used to help pay-off student debt or finance further education. When Corpsmembers graduate from the Corps (terms of service typically range from three months to a year), Corps staff and counselors help with the transition. Corpsmembers receive help building their résumé and practicing interviews. Many Corps have partnerships with local employers and workforce agencies. Corps also usually operate alumni associations through which Corpsmembers can make professional connections and learn about job opportunities. Corpsmembers leave their Corps experience with an understanding of the work world and a sense of responsibility to the environment and their community.
Published September 2017
Corps are locally-based organizations that engage young adults and post-9/11 veterans in service addressing recreation, conservation, disaster response, and community needs. Through a defined term of service, Corps participants – or “Corpsmembers” – gain work experience and develop in-demand skills.
Affinity and Identity-Based Crews and Programs
posted Feb 8, 2023
The purpose of this guide is to highlight the work of service and conservation Corps who develop and manage identity-based programs and crews, discuss the intention and purpose of these crews, why they are important, and how they have been transformational experiences for Corpsmembers and partners.
posted Mar 9, 2022
Successes and lessons from the COVID-19 Conservation Corps programs in Juneau, Anchorage, and Sitka that trained and employed out-of-work Alaskans in 2020.
posted Oct 1, 2021
This handbook defines the role of the SCA and the Programs’ policies and guidelines. It is to be referred to and followed. There are three sections- general information, a section specifically for the Leader Team Crew Leader, and a section specifically for the Leader Team Members.
Youth Conservation Corps Reference Manual: A Coordinator’s Guide
posted Oct 1, 2021
This handbook is intended to provide consistency among the National Park Service (NPS) units responsible for implementing the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) and to offer guidance for establishing and operating the YCC throughout the NPS.
