San Juan Islands Conservation District
San Juan County, Washington
Youth Conservation Corps
Donate to the Youth Conservation Corps today!
The Youth Conservation Corps has provided healthy outdoor work and experiential learning opportunities for hundreds of youth in San Juan County since 2007. YCC crew members solve ecological problems throughout the islands each year, gaining insight, accountability, career skills and a conservation ethic that lasts a lifetime. But YCC needs your support for long lasting financial stability. Please watch this fun video from our 2024 summer season and consider a donation.
To learn more about the YCC program, please contact Program Coordinator, Mike Rosekrans [mike@sjicd.org]
Youth Conservation Corps School Year Offerings
San Juan Island
YCC is excited to continue its Winter Program in partnership with local organizations and agencies, including Ecostudies, San Juan Preservation Trust, Salish Sea Rescue, and the Bureau of Land Management.
The Winter YCC program will accept 10 crew members for the 2026–27 season. The crew will meet 1–2 Saturdays per month from September through May, giving youth an opportunity to stay involved in conservation work, continue building their skills, and spend time outside throughout the school year. Crew members will receive a $25 stipend for each workday.
What will we work on?
This winter, the YCC crew will take part in hands-on conservation projects around San Juan Island. Planned projects include native seed collection at American Camp, planting at English Camp, and fuel reduction work at Mitchell Hill, with additional projects for 2027 currently in development.
Each workday will also include an environmental education lesson connected to the day’s conservation project, giving crew members a chance to better understand the ecosystems, organizations, and conservation issues behind their work.
Transportation:
Projects will take place at various sites on San Juan Island. Transportation from the Friday Harbor ferry terminal to project sites can be provided for crew members traveling from Orcas or Lopez Islands.
Apply For YCC!
Applications for the Winter YCC 2026–27 Program are due September 15. You will be notified by September 17th.
Funding for the SJI Winter Program will come in part from our SJI Cares County Fair Campaign, along with generous donations from our community. We are still actively fundraising to help sustain year-round YCC programming. If you are able to contribute, even a $25 donation goes a long way toward keeping our youth engaged, learning, and spending time outside! Direct donations can be made via PayPal, or visit our YCC donation page for other ways to contribute. Please get in touch if you'd like to learn more or get involved with our fundraising team.
More Information
2025 Summer
Season Newsletter
YCC Alumni:
We want to hear from you! Please take 5-10 minutes to complete this survey.
Youth Conservation Corps Summer Program
Youth crew members work closely with program staff, conservation professionals, and partner education programs on stewardship/restoration projects, inquiry-based experiential outdoor education, and professional development. In doing so, YCC members gain applied job skills and training that can help propel them into their future.
The program looks to provide a range of skills and knowledge for crew members that includes weekly educational themes during the summer program:
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Team building & anti-bullying (training week)
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Sense of place
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Wilderness skills
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Land management ethics
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Marine ecosystems & nearshore environments
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Endangered species preservation
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Forest health & fire ecology
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Art & environmental awareness
Daily activities can include: forest stand mapping, Traditional Ecological Knowledge of native plants, wildfire risk reduction, wetland and riparian zone recovery, invasive species removal, citizen science, and trail building/brushing.
Applications for YCC Summer 2027 will be available in early spring 2027.
What do students gain from YCC?
Whether interested in the summer program, or one of our year-round offerings, YCC is an excellent resource for kids and families living in the San Juan Islands. The YCC is an opportunity for youth to not only spend time outdoors learning about local conservation and stewardship efforts, but actually improving wilderness areas and public lands across the islands. Our program is dedicated to establishing an ethic of care and stewardship among youth while also providing mentorship and professional development training from local environmental professionals.
By the end of each season every crew member develops a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing not only that they have experience personal growth, but that they have made valuable contributions to their community and the environment. Students receive a financial stipend at the season to celebrate and thank them for their hard work.
Pictured
Top: Luke holds a massive Tansy Ragwort plant that he pulled in 2020. Bottom: A 12 yr old Luke ventures through the forest.
Student Testimonial
“Throughout my journey through the YCC, I have grown in many ways (not just height!). Being in this program has been an incredible experience, and it has given me an even greater appreciation for these beautiful islands that I get to call home. There is an indescribable feeling that I get knowing I am making a difference, and I just feel absolutely connected with the world around me."
- Luke Fincher (He/him), YCC Alumni & Crew leader, San Juan Island
Luke joined the San Juan Island Youth Conservation Corps crew at age 12. In 2025 he completed his ninth year in the program and 3rd year as a crew leader, mentoring and leading YCC crew members.
This program is funded through grants, contracts with local land management agencies, and private donations. Thank you to our local community for making this community program possible.