Youth Conservation Corps
Youth spend their summer vacations working hard throughout the Twin Cities seven-county metro area. Whether they're working as a team to build a staircase at a local park or working by themselves to help a local organization catch up on data entry, our participants earn wages, develop pride in their abilities and gain transferable skills to take to future jobs. The community benefits, too. Residents see improvements in their parks and recreation areas, and businesses get to draw from a competent, experienced workforce of young people.
2009 Program Highlights
- 1,237 youth worked a total of 121,455 hours and earned a collective $892,013
- 406 participants earned a total of 695 high school credits
- 95% felt their work was important to the community
- 95% learned important job skills that will help in future jobs
- 95% improved their self-confidence
Check out our 2009 Youth Conservation Corps report (PDF) for more program accomplishments.
"[My Tree Trust job] prepared me well. I think I can handle a lot of things that will come my way."
-2008 Youth Conservation Corps participant
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Join a Crew
Joining the Youth Conservation Corps is a great way to earn money and gain work experience during the summer.
As a participant, you will:
- Earn minimum wage
- Work an average of 20 hours per week for nine weeks (June - August)
- Earn up to two high school credits
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the program, you must be a resident of the cities of St. Paul or Minneapolis, or reside in Dakota, Washington, or Hennepin County AND be between the ages of 14 and 21. PLEASE NOTE: If you are a resident of St. Paul you must apply through the St. Paul Youth Job Corps. If you are a resident of Minneapolis, you must apply through the STEP UP program.
For more information on eligibility, read our 2010 Eligibility Fact Sheet (PDF).
Application
The Youth Conservation Corps program is full for 2010, and we are no longer accepting applications.
Youth Conservation Corps job offers will be made the first week of June. All applicants will receive one of the following letters by mail: a job offer letter or a waiting list letter. Applicants will need to respond to their job offer by the deadline indicated in the letter or the offer will be retracted. For those on the waiting list, we will contact you by telephone if a position comes available after the program begins.
Are you a past participant?
Join us on Facebook to reconnect with other Tree Trust alumni.
Program Partners
Tree Trust thanks our 2009 partners for supporting the Youth Conservation Corps.
Camp Courage
City of Brooklyn Center
City of Golden Valley
Dakota Scott Youth Council
LaCreche Early Childhood Centers Inc.
Washington County Parks
Are you interested in becoming a project partner? Click here to request information about hosting a project site for our crews.
