Youth Conservation Corps

2026 Applications Open

Applications for the 2026 Youth Conservation Corps with the National Parks of Boston are now open. Apply by April 26, 2026. 

 

Duration:

2 minutes, 50 seconds

Over the course of 5 weeks YCC’s work as a team alongside National Parks of Boston staff to co-facilitate camp experiences for youth serving organizations.

 

Discovering National Parks of Boston

“My favorite week was when we took the campers to Spectacle Island. It makes me remember when groups became the closest and YCCs began leading more.” - Hazel, 2024 YCC

 

NPS Photo

Where: Boston, MA – Charlestown Navy Yard

When: June – August

Age: 15-18 years old

Eligibility: US citizen, national, or permanent resident. Must live locally

Interest Areas: Nature, history, recreation, outdoor learning, urban parks, working with children, teamwork, visitor services, public speaking

Earn: $16.00/hour

Application: Rolling acceptance through April 26^th, 2026, at 11:59PM

Questions? E-mail applications and questions at [e-mail]

 

NPS Photo

A Summer Like No Other

Over the course of 5 weeks, YCC’s work as a team alongside park staff to co-facilitate camp experiences for local youth serving organizations. We will be hosting various Greater Boston YMCAs to lead field trip experiences at the National Parks of Boston.

Sites visited:

• Boston National Historical Park
• Boston African American National Historic Site
• Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park

YCC employees are expected to be eager to work with youth (ages 7 – 12), be a positive, contributing team member, and open to learning or participating in a variety of topics.

In addition to facilitating activities for young campers, YCCs will participate in professional development trainings and experiences relating to public land management and occassionally lead pop-up activities for the public.

 

NPS Photo

Program Expectations

• Lead games and activities for young campers relevant to park sites
• Uphold safety standards for all program participants
• Be an active participant in group discussions to strengthen future engagement
• Prepare and maintain program equipment
• Foster appropriate and respectful relationships with colleagues, YMCA campers, and staff
• Wear program t-shirt and appropriate clothing for working with youth outdoors
• Communicate with supervisors responsibly
• Participate in trainings relevant to job expectations – CPR/First Aid, working with young children, and various career development sessions

 

NPS Photo

Requirements

• Be 15 years old before or on the first day of work and not reach 19 years old during the program duration
• Housing within the local area is not provided or available. YCCs must be local and able to commute to and from work
• Be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident

Reporting for Work, Schedule, Salary, and Leave

• The program will meet everyday in the Charlestown Navy Yard – 21 Second Avenue Boston, MA 02129
• A typical workday is 9AM – 4PM
• YCC pay is $16/hour
• The program will be full time (Monday – Friday) ~30–35 hours/week:
  • Monday, June 29^th–Friday, August 21^st
• Transportation for programming throughout the day will be provided by NPS
• Although YCCs do not acquire paid leave exceptions for unpaid leave can be used for illnesses, religious holidays, etc.

Interested in Applying?

1. If interested in joining this summer’s Hill to Harbor YCC program, apply using the YCC application form, which can be downloaded here: YCC application form. There are spaces for up to 4 references. Only 1 – 2 references are required.
2. Scan or take a picture of your application.
3. E-mail the completed form to [e-mail].
4. Continue to check your email inbox to receive updates on the hiring and interview process.

Apply by Sunday, April 26^th to be considered for the 2026 Youth Conservation Corps with the National Parks of Boston.

• We will host group interviews with no more than 5 applicants per group
• If selected, the paperwork process will begin immediately to ensure onboarding in a timely manner

If you have any additional questions about the program or application process, do not hesitate to reach out to us directly by e-mailing us.

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If you do not live in the Boston or Great Boston area, there are numerous Youth Conservation Corps opportunities across the country. To find a YCC program near you, check out Youth Conservation Corps Opportunities.