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Hire a Youth Crew

 

Why hire a Conservation Corps youth crew?

Conservation Corps youth crew members are trained and ready to spend a summer living and working outdoors to restore our natural resources. AmeriCorps crew leaders mentor youth in hard work, community service and environmental stewardship. All are well trained, well equipped and ready for projects throughout Minneosta, Wisconsin and surrounding states. The Conservation Corps serves government, education and nonprofit organizations for the common good.

 

How does it work?

  • There are 13 Summer Youth Corps crews, each with two adult leaders and six youth, ages 15-18. The program manager and coordinator are responsible for crew scheduling and oversight. 
  • Crews are available late-June to mid-August.
  • Crews complete natural resource projects for the public good in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Crews are based at a St. Croix State Park camp near Hinckley, Minn. and “spike camp” at project locations for one to four weeks at a time.
  • Youth corpsmembers and adult leaders are considered participants (not employees) and receive a living allowance for their service. Leaders are enrolled in AmeriCorps, a national service movement to improve communities, and they receive an education award at the end of their service.

 

What is the crew’s daily schedule?

  • Crews work 8-hour days, including drive time, Monday through
  • Friday, late-June through mid-August.
  • Crews depart from their campsite at 8:30 a.m. and return by 5 p.m. 
  • Lunch breaks includes 30 minutes for education and training.
  • Crews frequently camp on or near the work site if the project is far from the program’s Hinckley, Minn. base camp

 

How much training do crews have?

  • Crew leaders have a range of knowledge and skills. Beside technical skills in natural resource management, they are trained in youth leadership and safety.
  • Youth are trained at the base camp and quickly gain skills needed to complete projects.
  • Project sponsors are encouraged to provide on-site project education such as ecological-impact and project-specific skills training.

Who are the youth and crew leaders?

  • Youth, ages 15-18, and crew leaders, ages 19-25, come from throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
  • Youth are from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and we strive to enroll equal numbers of urban and rural youth and males and females. About 15 to 20 percent are deaf or hard-of- hearing youth, assisted by ASL interpreters.  
  • Youth are selected for the program based on interest and commitment. About one in four applicants is enrolled.

 

Conservation Corps Minnesota comes fully equipped and provides…

  • Crews of up to 8 young people with trained supervision
  • Crew leaders certified in Wilderness First Aid
  • Well-maintained vehicles for crew use
  • Workers compensation
  • Hand tools and safety equipment
  • Camping equipment and supplies
  • Administrative and crew management
  • Daily education for youth corpsmembers
  • Quality work

 

How much does a crew cost?

  • An 8-person youth crew incurs about $920 in expenses per day, including travel, equipment and  supervision.
  • Inquire about cost-share opportunities to help defray the cost of a crew.  

 

How do I hire a crew?

Email the Program Manager for a project request form: eric.antonson@conservationcorps.org  

The Program Manager will contact you with crew availability and negotiate the terms of the project.

A contract will be drafted and agreed upon by both parties. 

The project will be scheduled and work can begin.

 

 

Once the project has begun:

  • The Program Manager will provide project planning and logistical support if needed, including materials acquisition and project design.
  • Project sponsor involvement will vary depending on the nature of the project. Initial oversight may be necessary to orient the crew. 

 

What can youth crews do?

 

EROSION CONTROL

Slope stabilization

 

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Exotic species removal 

Planting

Nursery activities

Seed collection 

Shoreline & stream bank restoration

Rain garden installation

Timber stand Improvement

 

DATA COLLECTION

Water quality sampling & monitoring

Wildlife surveys

 

CONSTRUCTION & CARPENTRY

Docks and bridges

Boardwalks and steps

Natural resource facilities

Trail construction and maintenance

Basic carpentry

 

 

To hire a crew contact:

Eric Antonson, Youth Programs Manager

(651) 209-9900 ext 11

eric.antonson@conservationcorps.org 

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