Jump To:
Description and Program Goals
This program is in partnership with Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) and recruits local teens for summertime employment in the conservation field. Over the course of the summer, these teens work on a variety of projects that provide valuable hands-on experience related to parks, recreation, and natural resources management.
Conservation Corps members are provided with professional development and educational opportunities with a diverse group of speakers comprised of professionals from many different fields of expertise related to conservation and sustainability. It is the perfect opportunity to start building resumes, connect with peers in a team setting, and learn more about different careers in conservation.
Program Goals:
- Conservation Career Development Pipeline: This is one link in a conservation career pipeline that starts with pre-k and elementary school programming, continues through middle school with our Neighborhood Ecology Corps, and connects to this program by offering high school-aged participants the opportunity to gain real-life job skills.
- Intentional Recruiting: CCNC and Raleigh Parks are committed to recruiting local teens and prioritizing underrepresented communities.
- Completion of Conservation Projects Directly Impacting Raleigh Parks' Land Stewardship Goals: Crew members get hands-on experience completing mission-critical conservation work for Raleigh Parks.
Impacts
The training provided by CCNC and the leadership of the crew leaders truly prepares these crews to tackle real-world stewardship projects. Their work leaves a lasting impact on our parks and trails. Below is a high-level look at just a few of the impacts they have had on our parks. For a full list of projects, please see the annual reports at the bottom of this page as projects varied by crew.
- 12,320 Hours of Conservation Work
- 500 Native Plants Added to Restoration Areas
- 5 Wildlife, Plant, and Historical Surveys Completed (Salamander, Box Turtle, Leaf Mining Insects, Ashe Trees, and Dorothea Dix Donor Stone GIS Map)
- 95 Small Structures/Amenities Built
- 30+ Acres Worked in for Invasive Removal
- ¼ Mile of Trail Built and then Maintained Annually
Alumni Testimonials
After her time in CCNC and the Raleigh Youth Conservation Corps, Maya is double-majoring in Environmental Technology & Management and Sustainable Materials & Technology at NC State University. She is also doing water quality research in Southeast Raleigh and is working towards creating a nonprofit focused on educating about native sustainable materials.
It grounded me, in a sense. I was dealing with a lot at the time, and it reminded me of who I truly was and what I enjoyed at a base level. To be more specific, it was a sign that I could shamelessly enjoy working hard, celebrate myself, and do good in the world at the same time.” -Maya
I really enjoyed my time with this youth crew, and it definitely set me up on the path I am on today. After graduating high school, I am now attending Clemson University to study forestry. In the summers, I've been working as a wildland firefighter. My first season was with the BLM out of Ely, Nevada, and my second and current season is out of the Pike National Forest in Lake George, Colorado. I realized that I didn't have to settle for a desk job and could pursue something that made a difference in the world as well as kept me physically active and engaged with the natural world around me." -Chapman
Annie is pursuing a degree at NC State in Horticulture Science and has recently interned with the Coker Arboretum through the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
My biggest takeaway from the program would be that public parks take work! The summer crew takes up only a sliver of time that regular maintenance crews are on - they are out there every day cleaning up, stewarding land, and building structures. I have gained a deeper appreciation for who makes parks successful”. -Annie
Madison joined another CCNC Crew based out of Uwharrie after completing the Raleigh Youth Conservation Corps. Then after graduating high school was recognized as a NatureBridge Joie Armstrong Scholar and got to backpack through Yosemite. After this experience, they started pursuing a degree in History and Literature from Duke University.
“Before CCNC, I approached the outdoors with hesitancy, a sort of latent understanding that as a person of color outdoor recreation wasn't easily accessible nor fully welcoming. I had visited multiple outdoor spaces and been met with disdain and dismissive glances. CCNC transformed and liberated the relationship I had with the outdoors. I was left with the understanding that thanks to the work of Conservation Legacy, the field of conservation is becoming more diverse, accessible and welcoming to those from non-traditional backgrounds.” -Madison
Since [CCNC Raleigh Youth Conservation Corps], I’ve been accepted to North Carolina A&T where I’m now going into my third year as an Environmental Studies major. My biggest takeaway from the program was the satisfaction of giving back to the planet, and community through environmentally based work. I still love telling people about the hammocks near the sunflowers, and the trail that we all worked together to make. Something that still sticks with me is how we were able to honor the memory of Dorothea Dix Hospital’s former patients by leveling their headstones. I’m beyond grateful for the lesson of global citizenship this program taught me, and I had lots of fun with y’all!” -Cayla
How to Apply
The application window usually opens in late winter/early spring. If interested in applying for either the Crew Member or Crew Leader/Assistant Leader positions, please visit CCNC’s website. Crew Members must be between the ages of 15 - 18, and Crew Leaders must be 18 - 30 years of age or 35 if a veteran, to apply. Learn more about how to apply.
