Each summer in Yellowstone, teens from across the country come together to participate in the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program. The YCC engages teams of 15- to 18-year-olds in leadership, education, recreation, and work activities in the park. The work-based learning program, led by a dedicated group of NPS staff, completes a wide array of projects such as constructing fencing, conducting citizen science projects, and restoring trails. The program is challenging, educational, and fun, and offers participants opportunities to expand their horizons while building invaluable skills to take home with them. The annual park program promotes the stewardship of Yellowstone and other wild places among the next generation, while providing much-needed labor for park priority projects.

Yellowstone Forever is a proud, longtime supporter of the Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps program. Learn more about other youth programs in Yellowstone.

Here are just a handful of the projects YCC crews accomplished this year:

• Installed 80 bear-proof food storage boxes in park campgrounds; removed 3 outdated boxes
• Built 461 bumper log structures to protect thermal features and stream beds from vehicle damage
• Social Science – Conducted 130 hours of visitor use surveys
• Worked on 8 different trails across Yellowstone
  • Brushed 40,460 feet of trail for hikers and stock animals
  • Rehabbed 1,060 feet of trail; built 50 feet of new tread
• Worked on other projects including vegetation management, maintenance, adopt-a-highway garbage clean up, and firewood cutting and distribution

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credits: NPS / Jacob W. Frank