Youth Conservation Corps

Overview Program Elements Crew Members Crew Leaders

Photos

OVERVIEW OF THE YCC

Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a two-week summer employment opportunity for teenagers to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia while developing essential work and life skills. In this program, youth spend weekdays completing work projects such as trail maintenance and small construction projects. During weeknights and the weekend between sessions, crew members will engage in environmental education and adventure opportunities.

Ten Crew Members live at each host park with three to four adult Crew Leaders. Crews are divided into male and female groups. There are no co-ed crews. Participants learn to live and work as a community of diverse individuals while fostering independence and self-confidence. During their time in the program, crew members are not allowed to have cell phones, laptops or other electronic devices.

Applications for the Youth Conservation Corps program can be submitted electronically. Navigate the side menu tabs to learn more about YCC opportunities, and stay connected via Facebook at @VAStateParksYCC.

2026 Program Timeline

1/1 Crew Member applications open

3/13 Crew Member applications close

3/20 Interview invitations to top applicants

3/21–4/3 Crew Member interviews

4/18 Crew Member offers

5/1 Onboarding paperwork due

6/14 Session 1 drop off (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)

6/27 Session 1 graduation (11 a.m.)

7/5 Session 2 drop off (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)

7/18 Session 2 graduation (11 a.m.)

YCC members at York River State Park

HISTORY OF THE YCC

YCC was developed after the success of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program, created by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. This program for men, ages 18 through 25, provided a paid opportunity to travel and complete projects on public lands. CCC crews built much of the original infrastructure in Virginia’s six original state parks that opened in 1936. Like their CCC predecessors, YCC crews work on public lands maintaining trails and constructing legacy projects that will serve Virginia State Parks’ guests for years to come.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Division of State Parks adopted a two-year pilot YCC program in 2000. During each of those two years, there was only one crew at one park, but the program expanded to upwards of sixteen crews each summer. The pilot program informed the Virginia State Parks Youth Conservation Corps (VSPYCC) as it was until 2022. In 2023, the program was updated and shortened to two weeks, and a greater emphasis was placed on career development and conservation education.

The mission of YCC is to connect Virginia's youth with the natural world through a structured program of meaningful service projects on public lands. Youth build trails, friendships, environmental literacy and self-confidence as they work to preserve access to the outdoors for generations to come.

YCC members at Natural Bridge State Park