Youth Conservation Corps - Program Elements

A DAY IN THE YCC

Below is the day-to-day structure of what life will look like during the two-week period serving in a state park, although details will vary.

PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE:

• Trail maintenance or construction of new trails.
• Construction of picnic pads and tent sites framed with wood and filled with gravel or stone dust.
• Reframing and weeding of garden beds and landscaping by a park’s visitor center.
• Removal of invasive plant species such as tree of heaven, wavy leaf basket grass and autumn olive.
• Construction of stream crossings, water bars and other features to guide users away from treading on ‘social trails’ that can contribute to erosion.
• Improvements in campgrounds and day use areas to improve the visitor experience. 
• Laying of mulch, gravel, stone dust, or other materials in areas that need to be refurbished.
• Collaboration with Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Park Volunteers and other groups to accomplish both conservation and recreation improvement projects including but not limited to those listed.

 
Before and after work was done on a stream crossing by the YCC crew at Sky Meadows State Park.

LODGING AND MEALS:

Crews will live in park housing on state park property, which could include a bunkhouse, a double-wide trailer or a lodge. All housing must have bunks for 10 Crew Members and a separate room with beds for the Crew Leaders. The housing is rustic, and oftentimes tight quarters. It is not uncommon to have a short walk from the housing to the bathhouse facilities. There are no camping crews at this time.

All meals are provided, and most are cooked collaboratively by crew members, supervised by their leaders in the bunkhouse or on the grill.

TECHNOLOGY/PHONE POLICY: 

Youth members are required to leave their cell phones with their parents or guardians for the duration of the program. Communication will be handled through the crew leaders, and in case of an emergency, staff will contact parents directly. Members are not allowed to use cell phones, but are encouraged to send letters home. Crew Members will also use Crew Leader phones to make phone calls home on Wednesday evenings during the program. Guardians will be notified if contact is necessary regarding a member’s well-being or any issues during the program. Members must be without their cell phones for the entire program to get the full immersive experience in nature and to fully connect with their fellow members.

FUN ACTIVITIES:

Interpretive, environmental education and recreation activities vary from park to park. Activities that crews have enjoyed in the past include:

• Tubing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming or biking at neighboring state parks.
• Astronomy programs or “star parties”.
• Snake or other animal identification programs.
• Archery programs.
• Fishing programs.
• Cavern or cave trips.
• Visits to nearby towns and attractions.
• Bird or plant walks led by a Virginia Master Naturalist.