Looking for a summer camp opportunity for your 14-17 year old youth ?
The Youth Conservation Corp run by Virginia State Parks is wonderful opportunity that will engage them in a structured program of important conservation and park projects on public lands while providing learning that fosters teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
These are outdoor programs; the young person will work hard, sometimes in difficult conditions including deep mud, hot sun, and mosquitoes and flies.
Youth Corps projects are visible, tangible, and meaningful, and they have achievable goals. They have educational aspects, are environmentally sound and fulfill an unmet yet valuable need in the park.
Youth Conservation Corps – Crews live in a VA State Park the park for three weeks. Work generally takes place in the daytime, and environmental education and adventure opportunities fill evenings and weekends. Crew members work and live as a team. Additionally, crew members complete an individual project. Recruitment is targeted to attract youth from diverse backgrounds. Youths who have a strong background in environmental education are encouraged to apply, but young people who have never experienced a park setting are welcome as well. An executive director and YCC coordinator handle recruitment and selection of crew members and supervisors. Site selection and project planning are handled by park staff.
Youth Development Corps (YDC) – This is a weekend program held during spring and fall. Crew members arrive on Friday nights, prepare a meal and set up camp. On Saturday, they work on a conservation project, much as in the YCC, but of course the scope of the work is limited by the short duration of the event. On Sunday the young people take part in outdoor activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing and interpretive hikes. This program is still in the planning stages.
Of the three programs, only the YCC requires potential participants to fill in an application form. The other two are by invitation of the executive director. Here are the YCC application forms:
In-kind support from local groups, such as parks’ friends groups, is important and essential to the program. The groups want to help the young people, while corps participants help the parks. Various citizen organizations with few financial resources are able to contribute towards providing environmental education, logistical support, outreach, publicity and even help with recruitment. These groups also help promote the benefits of the program.
To view the crewmember job description and fill out an application, click one of the following links:
2009 Sessions
- Session One: June 21 – July 11
- Session Two: July 19 – Aug. 8
Applicants may choose the session but not the park. To learn more about the Virginia’s diverse natural resources, participants are placed in a setting distinct from their home. VSPYCC coordinators choose applicant placement and reserve the right to reject applicants who refuse a specific park assignment. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the park. To facilitate carpooling, program administrators will provide contact information on other participants, but the YCC will not make the arrangements.
Program completion stipends
- $500 for crew members
A TYPICAL DAY:
6:30 a.m. – Wake up
- 7 a.m. – Physical training
- 7:30 a.m. – Breakfast
- 8:30 a.m. – Morning project: trail maintenance; make bluebirds boxes
- Noon – Lunch
- 1 p.m. – Afternoon project: wetlands restoration, build osprey platforms
- 4 p.m. – Swim
- 6 p.m. – Dinner
- 8 p.m. – Evening activities: Interpretive program, night hike
- 9:30 p.m. – Journal entry
- 10 p.m. – Lights out
- Weekend – Adventure training (activities vary by park) – caving, canoeing, horseback riding, nature hike or visit museum
Click here for more information on the VA State Youth Conservation Corp:
VSP Director of Volunteer Services
Leesylvania State Park
2002 Daniel Ludwig Drive
Woodbridge VA 22191
Phone: (703) 583-5497
Fax: (703) 583-2514
email vspycc@dcr.virginia.gov
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