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.

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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.

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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 School Year Offerings

​Lopez Island

YCC is excited to enter its third year of collaboration with the Lopez Island Family Resource Center’s (LIFRC) After-School Program. Funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant awarded to LIFRC, the program provides free, year-round access to fun and enriching learning experiences for Lopez Island families.

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This fall, YCC program days will be held on Tuesday afternoons and are open to middle school students (5th–8th grade). Participants will explore environmental science through hands-on lessons and engage in meaningful stewardship projects on public lands across Lopez Island.

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This partnership offers an excellent opportunity for Lopez youth to stay connected with nature and community through YCC all year long. This program is currently accepting new students: Register here!

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San Juan Island

YCC will be continuing its successful Winter Program with Wolf Hollow Rehabilitation Center, but this year will be expanding through partnerships with Bureau of Land Management and San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship. Crew members will work two weekend days a month from January to April, receiving a $25/day stipend. 

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More details and an application coming soon. 

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​​​​​​​​​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.​

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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.​​​​​​

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Applications for the Summer 2026 program will become available in Spring 2026.