Youth Conservation Corps and Public Land Corps

The Public Lands Corps will provide experience, education, and employment opportunities for members between the ages of 16 and 30, or up to 35 for veterans. Members will participate in meaningful, paid, on-the ground activities while advancing the c

Youth Conservation Corps provides young individuals between 16-18 years of age and Public Lands Corps participants 16-30 years old, or up to 35 years old for veterans, a meaningful paid work experience while you advance the conservation and stewardship of public lands. You will contribute to important work in wildfire risk reduction, trails and recreation management, habitat restoration, research, visitor services, and more, developing skills necessary to join the next generation of conservation leaders.

Partners interested in entering into a Youth Conservation Corps or Public Lands Corps agreement with the Forest Service may be any nonprofit organization, state or local government, or governing body of any Indian Tribe that: offers meaningful, full-time, productive work in a natural and cultural resource setting through conservation projects; provides a variety of work experience, life skills, education, training, and support services; provides participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States; and provides participants with a living allowance, stipend, or wages.

Participants must meet the following requirements: Youth Conservation Corps; at least age 15 at the start of the enrollment and be age 18 or younger on the final day of the program. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories. Have a valid Social Security Number and able to obtain a state work permit. For Public Lands Corps; be between 16-30 years old, or up to 35 years old for veterans. You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident and have obtained a high school diploma or GED.

Funds will be used for trail maintenance and construction, wildfire risk mitigation, fuels reduction, and prescribed burning. Also, funds will be used for participants to learn about forest conservation, visitor services and outreach as well as, wildlife habitat restoration, reforestation, tree planting, and seed collection, mapping and geographic information systems, and more.

The authority and agency directives determine restrictions on awards. May not be used for activities unrelated to the use of assistance.

Youth Conservation Corps projects last during the summer from 1-3 months. Public Land Corps projects are at least 4 months in length and participants can earn a Public Lands Corps non-competitive hiring authority by working a minimum of 640 hours.

Partners provide proposals to agency officials who determine if a partnership for the activity is warranted and if there are funds for approval. Awards are determined at the region, station and national level.