Youth Conservation Corps - Program Elements


Youth Conservation Corps

Photos

Flicker photos for YCC

A DAY IN THE YCC

Below is the day-to-day structure of what life will look like during the two-week period serving in a state park, although details will vary.

Typical Weekday

6:30 a.m.
Wakeup call
6:45 a.m.
Daily warm-up
7:15 a.m.
Breakfast, getting ready
8:00 a.m.
Report to worksite, receive instructions, WORK!
10:30 a.m.
15 min. break
12 - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch break
3:00 p.m.
15 min. break
5:00 p.m.
Arrive back at bunkhouse, showers
6:15 p.m.
Dinner
7:00 p.m.
Environmental education or conservation activity
8:00 p.m.
Crew Leaders’ time, Laundry, Team Building
9:30 p.m.
Winding down, journals, highs & lows
10:00 p.m.
Lights Out

Typical Weekend

6:30 a.m.
Sleep in
7:30 a.m.
Wakeup call, Breakfast, Get ready, Prepare lunch
9:00 a.m.
Crew departs for the day's activities (hike, museum, canoe, etc.)
5:00 p.m.
Arrive back at bunkhouse, showers
6:15 p.m.
Dinner, group activity at bunkhouse, laundry, etc.
8:00 p.m.
Nighttime Interpretive Program
9:30 p.m.
Winding down, journals, highs & lows
10:00 p.m.
Lights Out

PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE:

  • Trail maintenance or construction of new trails.
  • Construction of picnic pads and tent sites framed with wood and filled with gravel or stone dust.
  • Reframing and weeding of garden beds and landscaping by a park’s visitor center.
  • Removal of invasive species such as tree of heaven, wavy leaf basket grass, and autumn olive.
  • Construction of stream crossings, water bars and other features to guide users away from treading on ‘social trails’ that can contribute to erosion.
  • Laying of mulch, gravel, stone dust, or other materials in areas that need to be refurbished.
  • Collaboration with Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Park Volunteers and other groups to accomplish projects including but not limited to those listed.

stream crossing before work was done by the YCC crew at Sky Meadows State Park stream crossing after work was done by the YCC crew at Sky Meadows State Park
Before and after work was done on a stream crossing by the YCC crew at Sky Meadows State Park.

LODGING AND MEALS:

Crews will live in park housing on state park property, which could include a bunkhouse, a double-wide trailer or a lodge. All housing must have bunks for 10 Crew Members and a separate room with beds for the Crew Leaders. The housing is rustic, and it is not uncommon to have a short walk from the housing to the bathhouse facilities. There are no camping crews at this time.

All meals are provided, and most are cooked collaboratively in the bunkhouse or on the grill.

FUN ACTIVITIES:

Interpretive, environmental education and recreation activities vary from park to park. Activities that crews have enjoyed in the past include:

  • Tubing, kayaking, canoeing, swimming or biking at neighboring state parks.
  • Astronomy programs or “star parties”.
  • Snake or other animal identification programs.
  • Archery programs.
  • Fishing programs.
  • Cavern or cave trips.
  • Visits to nearby towns and attractions.
  • Bird or plant walks led by a Virginia Master Naturalist.

group activity