Conservation Corps
Strengthening Youth, Connecting Communities—Since 1995
The NorthWoods Conservation Corps is a hands-on conservation-based education and employment program for young people ages 15 – 20. Crew members are hired from communities surrounding project areas and are provided with high-quality conservation training and environmental education. The experience provides an excellent opportunity for youth to explore career paths in various fields of conservation and science. The Conservation Corps fields crews annually in six New England states and provides more than 10,000 hours of environmental education and conservation training every year.
Our Crews
Professional Trail Crews (ages 18+)
The NorthWoods Professional Trail Crew is designed for people who are looking to build their skills and experience. Traditionally, this small crew works on the most challenging and technical trail-building projects in the wilderness areas of northern Vermont and New Hampshire, all while living together in a “spike camp” during the week close to their project location. Projects generally are a range of high-priority natural resource and recreation management tasks. Crew members receive specific, on-site training throughout the season. At the end of the season, members will walk away as greater stewards of the natural environment.
Youth Conservation Corps Crews (ages 15-18)
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Crews are operated in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and work under the supervision of NorthWoods directors and USFWS personnel. Crew members are hired from communities surrounding National Wildlife Refuge locations throughout the northeastern United States.
Crew members are hired each year to work on Conservation Corps crews at the location closest to them. They are selected through a competitive application process and supervised by a trained leadership team. Successful candidates receive a weekly wage plus hands-on education and employment experience. Members must be willing to meet the challenges of working in the outdoors by demonstrating maturity, enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic. A commitment to the environment and to their local communities is essential.
Projects vary by year and location, but generally include trail maintenance and construction, improving wildlife habitat, studying and protecting wildlife populations, removing invasive species, addressing water quality issues, and maintaining critical infrastructure.
Women’s + Crew (ages 15-18)
Performing the same local trail and conservation work as our other youth crews, the Women’s + affinity crew works alongside 4-5 other crew members in an all-female environment while completing priority conservation projects and participating in educational projects focusing on gender issues in conservation. This crew is based out of our northern Vermont campus.
Backcountry Crew (ages 14-18)
The Backcountry Youth Crew works and camps out of a backcountry “spike” camp Monday-Friday and returns home on the weekends. While camping, the crew members participate in camp life by helping to make communal meals, gathering water from local water sources, and helping to construct a campfire. Gear necessary to cook in the backcountry is provided to the crew by NorthWoods. Camping gear and other necessary gear (tents, mess kit, sleeping bags, frame pack, etc.) can be provided to crew members as needed. This crew is based out of northern Vermont campus.
It is an amazing experience to be a part of the [NorthWoods Corps] family and I am happy to see so many people involved in the program. I had a lot of fun with it and hope that one day when my boy is old enough, he will follow in my and my sister’s footsteps and join the program. It taught me a lot and more than just conservation.
My time with NorthWoods, although only one short summer, may have been the most empowering summer of my life. I learned to appreciate, so much more, the natural world around us and started to understand how to cooperate and wisely work with the land. NorthWoods planted a seed in me and it blossomed, making one caring and eager human, I want to thank you all for helping me to realize what I could do in this world!
Some of my best times ever working on the mountains.
Some of the very best days of my youth were spent making trails and swimming in rivers and ponds. Glory days.
[…] to the Long Trail Patrol, the Vermont state trail crew; the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps; the Northwoods Stewardship Center Conservation Corps; and the National Community Conservation Corps. Partnerships yield new ideas, opportunities and […]