With the average teenager spending more than 7 hours a day of screen time, the separation between nature and youth has never been more prevalent. Environmental stewardship work coupled with place-based education benefits communities and changes lives. At the YCC, we believe in the importance of engaging youth in meaningful work combined with a profound environmental educational experience while instilling a positive work ethic in an outdoor setting. Donations to the YCC make this vision a reality for 45 youth each season.

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With federal and state funding sources becoming more competitive and less reliable each year, it has never been more important to seek community support so that our youth may have positive outdoor experiences and learn the value of a hard days’ work. Help us invest in our island youth by donating to a new YCC endowment fund through the San Juan Island Community Foundation to ensure that our YCC crew members can continue to protect our public lands for years to come.

 

Consider sponsoring a crew member with a $1000 donation or making a recurring donation to help support program costs throughout the year. Any amount you can contribute will make a meaningful impact. Exposing our youth to the real-world ecological challenges of today is our best investment for tomorrow.

 

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What will 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.

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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.

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​​​​​​​​​Youth Conservation Corps Winter Program

The Youth Conservation Corps is launching a YCC Winter Program to empower young people to protect our island home. We're teaming up with local environmental organizations like Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, San Juan Preservation Trust, and San Juan County Conservation Land Bank to create a 10-day program for 10 passionate individuals aged 12-18.

From Febuary to May 2025, crew members will dedicate two Saturdays a month to hands-on projects that enhance wildfire preparedness, restore forest health, and protect wildlife habitat. Beyond practical skills, our program fosters environmental education, teamwork, and a deep connection to our community.

Thank you for your support of this program through the 2024 SJI Cares County Fair Program! We are so appreciative. Program details will be announced in December 2024. 

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​​​​​​​​​Youth Conservation Corps Summer Program

​Youth crew members will 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.​

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The program looks to provide a range of skills and knowledge for crew members that includes weekly educational themes during the summer program:

• Team building & anti-bullying (training week)

• Sense of place

• Wilderness skills

• Land management ethics

• Marine ecosystems & nearshore environments

• Endangered species preservation

• Forest health & fire ecology

• Art & environmental awareness ​

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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.​​​