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YCC Summer Program

YCC Summer CrewsYouth Conservation Corps (YCC) Summer Program provides employment opportunities and environmental education to hard-working high school students interested in preserving Lake County's wetlands, prairies and woodlands. This program is a partnership between YCC, Inc. and the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

  • Gain and develop valuable life skills including excellent work habits, teamwork, leadership and communication.
  • Foster a love and understanding of the environment through educational opportunities and hands-on work experience.
  • Learn conservation and light construction techniques.
  • Spend the summer outdoors.
  • Earn money! YCC participants earn a competitive hourly wage.

WHAT TO EXPECT

As a member of YCC's Summer Program, members work to preserve and protect some of Lake County's most treasured natural lands. The day to day activities of YCC teams are as varied as the teenagers who participate in them. On any given day members are kept busy performing the following tasks:

  • Develop nature trails.
  • Plant native flora.
  • Construct trails, bridges or boardwalks.
  • Participate in erosion control studies.
  • Build and restore canoe launches.
  • Restore stream banks, rebuild wildlife habitats,

    …and much more

    In addition to conservation work, YCC teams also receive regular environmental education, participate in team-building exercises, and have a chance to enjoy the benefits of their hard work through recreational activities from camping to canoeing.

    YCC is open to Lake County residents aged 16-18. The program runs eight weeks, beginning in mid-June and continuing though early August. Participants work five days a week, Monday though Friday, for eight hours each day and earn $7.25 per hour. Participants are split into crews consisting of six members and are led by a trained college-level crew member.

    Crews are recruited from urban and rural high schools in Lake County and represent a varied mix of ethnic and economic backgrounds. New participants are selected through a lottery, with an equal number of male and female crew members chosen each year. Returning corps members receive priority placement at the recommendation of their crew leader.

    Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Summer Program provides employment opportunities and environmental education to hard-working high school students interested in preserving Lake County's wetlands, prairies and woodlands.

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