Youth Conservation Corps Opportunities

Superintendent Dan Wenk at the reopening celebration of Albright Visitor Center with REYP staff and members of the Youth Conservation Corps
Youth Conservation Corps members posing for a group photo

NPS Photo

2023 Youth Conservation Corps Opportunities by Park

Apply for the 2023 YCC season now through the deadline date (different for each park).

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us. For questions about specific locations, please contact your regional manager on our "Contact Us" page. You can also contact the park directly below with first name_last name@nps.gov. Go back to the main YCC page to apply.

*Please note all locations are subject to change. All YCC programs listed below (except Yellowstone National Park) are non-residential, and are therefore unable to provide park housing and transportation to and from the site. Please keep this in mind when applying.

Alaska Region

Park Name Session Dates Types of Projects Deadline Contact
Denali National Park and Preserve June 5 - July 28 Interpretation and education, trail maintenance, all aspects of the care, feeding, exercise, and training of 30-plus active Alaskan huskies February 22 Krista Johnson
Kenai Fjords National Park May 31 - August 11 Invasive species removal, interpretation, and visitor services February 23 Gillian Braver
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve May 30 - August 11 Trail maintenance, Ranger Station grounds maintenance, visitor services, Junior Rangers March 31 Russell Scribner

Intermountain Region

Park Name Session
Dates
Types of Projects Deadline Contact
Colorado National Monument (Colorado) June 5 - July 28 Trail maintenance, historic road maintenance, invasive species removal, assisting with field data collection for archaeological and biological studies, and education field trips to other land management agencies in the region April 21 Kevin Dowell
Fort Davis National Historic Site (Texas) June 5 - July 28 Trails maintenance, historic preservation, invasive species removal, interpretation, and visitor services April 28 Julz Wright
Fort Union National Monument (New Mexico) June 5 - July 28 Visitor services, interpretive education, cultural and natural resource protection, and facilities maintenance
May 14 Steven Geick
Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona) June 5 - July 21 Trail maintenance, invasive species removal, resource management field work March 31 Stan Belinte
Saguaro National Park (Arizona) June 5 - July 28 Trail Maintenance, Resource Management-cactus surveys, invasive species removal, maintenance projects, campsite improvements and various other work projects; Please note that we will be camping out each week Monday-Friday. Housing will not be provided over the weekends. April 21 Christina Cultrara
Yellowstone National Park (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming)

Note: This is a residential program, so housing will be provided, and non-local residents are encouraged to apply.
June 11 – July 10 and
July 16 – August 15
Boardwalk repair, invasive species removal, trail maintenance, installing food storage containers (Bear Boxes), visitor use monitoring, community science (national dragonfly freshwater study), fence building or repair, painting, campsite improvements, and various other work projects March 1 Mike Coonan

Midwest Region

Park Name Session Dates Types of Projects Deadline Contact
Arkansas Post National Memorial (Arkansas) June 6 -
August 5
Invasive plant management, trail maintenance, and cultural landscape maintenance April 30 Kirby McCalie
Buffalo National River (Arkansas) June 4 - July 29 Trails, painting, general campground maintenance, and custodial maintenance May 1 Kimberly Morgan
Fort Scott National Historic Site (Kansas) June 12 - August 4 Historic preservation, interpretation, leadership, and stewardship, as well as resume building, interviewing skills, the ins and outs of USAJobs, and working for the NPS May 19 Carl Brenner
Fort Smith National Historic Site (Arkansas, Oklahoma) April 24 - September 22 Removing overgrown vegetation and trees and conducting trail brushing along the west bank of the park March 3 Darin Huggins
Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana) June 4 -
August 12
Custodial services April 30 Florida Harris

Skaidra Kempkowski
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial (Indiana) June 5 -
July 28
Replace 1500 linear feet of split rail fence April 15 Daryl Beck
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (Wisconsin, Minnesota) June 12 - August 25 Campground maintenance, riverbank stabilization, painting, staining, river trash pickup April 24 Jedediah Wannarka
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (Kansas) May 29 -
July 21
Invasive species removal, learn about cattle and bison, stream fish, including the federally endangered Topeka shiner, and numerous nationally significant cultural resources April 7 Deborah Haley

Kristen Hase

Pea Ridge National Military Park (Arkansas) April 24 - September 22 Trail maintenance and repairs, new signage to clearly identify trail locations to be installed March 3 Aaron Artripe
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan) June 19 - August 11 Trail maintenance and grounds projects May 1 Kevin Swenson

National Capital Region

Park Name Session
Dates
Types of Projects Deadline Contact
Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland) June 20 - August 11 Invasive species removal, native plant monitoring and rehabilitation (implementing and maintaining tree tubes), trail trimming and rehabilitation (implementation of drainage structures), foot bridge and wayside cleaning, monitoring of fish, and painting. April 1 Samantha Mills
Prince William Forest Park (Virginia) Mid-June - Mid-August (TBD) Trail maintenance, stream quality monitoring, painting, staining, and other projects that are needed April 15 Kathy Kimmitz

Northeast Region

Park Name Session Dates Types of Projects Deadline Contact
Acadia National Park (Maine) June 26 - August 18 Installing check dams, replacing bog walk, clearing vegetation and drainage, removing invasive plant species, painting March 15 Erica Lobel
Boston African American National Historic Site (Massachusetts) June 28-August 18 YCCs work alongside NPS staff to learn recreational activities and develop facilitation skills. Youth build their abilities to take the lead to connect 8-12 year-old campers along the Black Heritage Trail in Boston's Beacon Hill. April 15 Michelle Pizzillo
Boston Harbor Islands National and State Recreation Area (Massachusetts) June 28 -August 18 YCCs work alongside NPS staff to learn recreational activities and develop facilitation skills. Youth build their abilities to take the lead to connect 8-12 year-old campers with the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Recreation Area. April 15 Michelle Pizzillo
Boston National Historical Park (Massachusetts) June 28 - August 18 Digital media storytelling focused on interpretation and education. Youth will work alongside NPS staff to conduct historical research to be infused in videography, photography, and social media used throughout the park digital visitor information kiosks and museum exhibits. April 15 Michelle Pizzillo
Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia) June 19 - August 11 Assisting Facilities staff with the maintenance of cultural landscapes including the Colonial Parkway, Jamestown Island, and Yorktown Battlefield May 26 Matt Henderson
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (Virginia) July 3 - 31 Cleaning head stones in the National Cemetery and some landscaping work in the cemetery, as well as within the park April 1 John Storke
Valley Forge National Historical
Park
(Pennsylvania)
June 26 -
August 18
Invasive species removal, native tree and shrub care, native seed collection and propagation April 15 Kate Jensen

Pacific West Region

Park Name Session Dates Project Types Deadline Contact
American Memorial Park (Northern Mariana Islands) May 29 - July 29 Edge plantings of the park’s approximately 30-acre nature wetland, remove invasive vine species April 30 Charles Wolford
Big Hole National Battlefield (Montana) June 19 - August 11 Custodial, grounds maintenance, trails maintenance, natural and cultural resource management, interpretation May 15 James Stevenson
City of Rocks National Reserve (Idaho) June 5 - July 28 Trail maintenance, invasive species removal, assisting with Natural Resources surveys, fuels reduction, habitat restoration efforts, as well as maintenance, visitor services, cultural resources, and compliance departments April 28 Austin Zollinger
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (Idaho) May 30 - July 31 Trail maintenance and painting TBD Brianna Bowhay
Haleakalā National Park (Hawai'i) June 11- August 5

Maintenance work to restore a garden in the Kipahulu District among others, and interpretation of natural and cultural resources

May 15 Lewis Johnson
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (Washington) June 19 - August 11 Trail maintenance, picnic shelter painting, and visitor services May 15 Ronald Sacchi
Lava Beds National Monument (California) June 19 - August 11 Invasive species control, post-fire reseeding and restoration, native plant seed collection, cave restoration and visitor impact mitigation, general maintenance and custodial work, and cement work for new pathways at cave entrances April 30 David Hays
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (Oregon, Washington) June 13 - August 18 Dragonfly Mercury Project monitoring, invasive species removal (blackberry, scotch broom, ivy), forest monitoring (long-term study on the Clatsop unit), vegetation monitoring (wetland plants), trail maintenance, visitor services (checking in junior rangers, leading tours, running games) April 14 Barbara Clark
Manzanar National Historic Site (California) July 3 - August 4 Grounds and building maintenance, which involves care of Manzanar's historic gardens, orchards, visitor center, and other features throughout the park. June 2 David Goto
Mount Rainier National (Washington) June 26 – August 18 Trail maintenance, shoveling snow in preparation for the busy visitor season, brushing, trail opening, tread maintenance, and rock wall repair May 1 James Montgomery
National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa) TBD Invasive species removal, trail maintenance TBD Anthony Wyberski
Nez Perce National Historical Park (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington) June 19 - August 18 Historic grounds maintenance (mowing, landscaping, trimming, hedging), trail maintenance, invasive species removal, native planting, debris removal, inventorying. visitor services, interpretive training, program development, summer events May 30 Tara Wilson
Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site (Hawai’i) June 5 - July 31 Cultural demonstrations, vegetation management, invasive species removal, re-planting native species, general maintenance of historic grounds June 5 Shelby Campbell
Point Reyes National Seashore (California) June 12 - August 4 Trail maintenance, resource fencing projects, wildlife education, beach clean-up, crosscut saw training, and more April 28 Bridget Dugan
Redwood National and State Parks (California) June 26 – August 18 Trail maintenance and repairs, bridge maintenance and repairs, assist the Resource Management Division on invasive plant removal, clearing fuel breaks around historic buildings April 30 Brittney McGuire

Southeast Region

Park Name Session Dates Project Types Deadline Contact
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
(Kentucky, Tennessee)
June 5 - July 28 Students will pressure wash, sand, and properly prepare all exterior surfaces of the receptacles for repainting. Decals will be applied stating “Trash Only” to encourage proper recycling.
May 5 Kenny Gilreath
Blue Ridge Parkway
(North Carolina, Virginia)
June 5 - July 28 Trails and campgrounds maintenance, in particular, have had little or no maintenance, learn about park management May 5 Jim Grant
Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North Carolina) June 4 - July 28 Boardwalk deck replacement April 15 Scott Babinowich
Christiansted National Historic Site (Virgin Islands) June 5 - July 28 Repaint grounds site features, clean drainages/gutters, trash collection, grounds care work, such as trimming, composting, pressure wash side walks and other walking areas
May 25 Angelina Alvino
Gulf Islands National Seashore (Florida, Mississippi) June 5 - July 28 Brush clearing on trails, repairing trail tread surface, installing signs, replacing missing bricks, dry lay and wet lay of missing bricks on historic fortifications, vegetation removal on historic fortifications, installing and removing sand fencing
April 7 R. W. Jenkins
Kings Mountain National Military Park (South Carolina) June 5 - August 11 Cultural landscape maintenance, trail maintenance, remove selected underbrush to improve the viewshed of the landscape, invasive plants management.
April 11 James Mullins
Little River Canyon National Preserve (Alabama) June 4 - July 28 Trail maintenance, trail structure construction, grounds care, roadside cleanup, exotic weed control, sign placement, and participate in environmental education training
April 5 Matthew Ibbettson
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park (Georgia) June 4 - July 28 Landscape maintenance in and around historic homes in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood April 7 Elvis Babilonia
Obed Wild and Scenic River (Tennessee) June 5 - July 28 Preservation of two wooden fences, preventative maintenance in order to preserve the integrity of the structures and ensure a maximum lifetime of service
May 5 Kenny Gilreath
Virgin Islands National Park (Virgin Islands) June 19 - August 12 Repainting parking lots and boardwalks, learning about interpretation and creating social media posts, learning about marine ecology monitoring and gathering nearshore monitoring data, beach clean-ups and marine debris categorizing and data sheet submission to national databases, getting certified in CPR/First Aid/CPR May 15 Elsa Alvear

Last updated: September 14, 2023