High school students interested in spending their summer in a national park and gaining valuable skills have at least three parks to consider for jobs with the Youth Conservation Corps. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and Joshua Tree National Park in California all are seeking applications for their YCC programs.

At Shenandoah, YCC enrollees work to maintain park trails, roads, buildings and campgrounds while learning about the national parks. This year's 8-week YCC program begins Monday, June 15, and runs through Friday, August 7. Applicants for YCC crew member positions must be between the ages of 16 and 18 during the employment period. YCC enrollees work 40 hours per week and earn minimum wage.

Additional program information and the current application can be obtained online from the park's website. Completed applications should be mailed to Volunteer & Youth Programs Coordinator, Shenandoah National Park, 3655 US Hwy 211 East, Luray, VA 22835. Applications must be postmarked by April 15 to be eligible.

At Grand Teton, officials hope to enroll 15-25 short-term positions in their Youth Conservation Program during this recruitment period, which ends March 20. 

The 2015 YCP program will span ten weeks from June 15 through August 21. Participants must be at least 16 years of age by June 15, and live locally as housing is not provided. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, or possess a work visa for temporary employment as non-citizen. Applicants must also be students in good standing.

Other qualifications include good team skills, a willingness to learn about Grand Teton and its trail system, and the ability to work at a physically demanding job which may involve lifting 30-40 pounds. Wages for YCP participants are approximately $11 per hour.

YCP enrollees develop an understanding of National Park Service conservation ethics as they assist with critically-needed maintenance and rehabilitation on park trails and pathways. Participants work alongside National Par Service crew leaders and become familiar with NPS stewardship goals, while learning essential trail maintenance skills. YCP participants will work 30-50 percent of their time with several of the other park divisions (i.e. Science & Resource Management, Interagency Fire, Interpretation, or Visitor & Resource Protection). Students will also meet experts in all aspects of public lands conservation.

During the course of their day, YCP workers may answer basic visitor questions and serve as ambassadors for the park as they complete project work on some of the most visible, and most impacted, park trails. Most of the work will be focused on projects dealing with rehabilitation of trails and backcountry areas through activities such as brushing, hazard tree removal, and construction of water bars and drainage swales. In addition to the project work, environmental education programs and several recreational opportunities are also offered.

For further information about the 2015 YCC season, call Stacy Myers at 307.739.3379. To obtain an application, write to Youth Conservation Program, Grand Teton National Park, P.O. Box 170, Moose, WY 83012, or visit the park’s website.

At Joshua Tree, there will be an eight-week-long YCC program that starts June 15. Youths between the ages of 15 and 18 are encouraged to apply. To be eligible, applicants may not reach their 19th birthday during the program.

Selected applicants will earn the hourly California Minimum Wage. Work hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., with every other Friday off.

The program provides young people of the community with excellent hands-on work experience. Work will be labor intensive and performed throughout the park. Proposed projects include trail construction and maintenance, resource habitat improvement, and resource restoration. Job development and youth training are truly and investment we can all make in the futures of our children. Application forms are available from Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters in Twentynine Palms. The application form must be returned or postmarked, no later than April 11. Call Human Resources Assistant Samantha Coots at 760-367-5516 for additional information.