Summer Youth Program Staff Information

What does it mean to be part of the MCC Summer Staff? As part of the MCC Summer Staff, you will join over 25 other creative and dynamic people who are dedicated to Minnesota’s youth and natural resources. Staff members are responsible adults (19 years and older) who have had previous experience working with and supervising high-school-aged youth. Crew Leaders will have previous experience camping in the outdoors and using power and hand tools. Summer Staff will also have a unique opportunity to live and work in an environment with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who are experienced in American Sign Language and equipped with ASL interpreters. The Summer Youth Program is a team-orientated, hands-on youth program that is based on three attributes: hard work, applied education, and having fun. These basic qualities are built into every program component, from staff training to work projects to weekend trips. Staff hired will be role models, setting good examples for the youth. Staff will supervise work projects, promote learning opportunities, and assist in developing the youth and surrounding community. Summer Youth Program staff are offered an incredible opportunity to make a lasting contribution to young people and the natural environment. It takes a huge personal commitment to work in this program, but the experience gained can change lives. MCC is committed to hiring, training, and supporting the best staff possible. Why should I join the Summer Staff? As a member of the Summer Staff, you will be able to: Receive an AmeriCorps Education Award worth $2362.50. Receive Wilderness First Aid Certification. Receive three weeks of paid training. Develop excellent leadership skills. Teach high school-aged youth the importance of the environment, good work ethics, and life skills. Live in an environment that promotes community and environmental stewardship. Share your knowledge of life, work, outdoor living, and environmental issues with others. Work in and enjoy natural areas in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, while protecting and improving the environment. Earn a competitive stipend while receiving free room and board. Receive up to three weekends off during the summer. Complete college internships. Get in shape, work hard, and play hard. Residential Site Layout – Take the MCC Camp Tour The Civilian Conservation Corps built the current MCC summer residential site at St. Croix State Park during the 1930s. The summer programs residential site is about 15 miles east of Hinckley, MN off of Interstate I-35. This is a rustic facility where only the main buildings have running water or electricity. Crew leaders are assigned a cabin with up to seven corpsmembers. Bathrooms and showers are found in the central latrine and Environmental Resource Center (ERC). The residential site has a dining hall where meals are served for up to 100 people. The residential site is located along the St. Croix River where you will find fishing, hiking, and canoeing opportunities. The residential site also has a large playing field for outdoor activities such as ultimate frisbee, softball, volleyball, soccer, etc. Staff have access to a washer and dryer at the site. Work Component Crews spend a majority of time away from the residential site and camp at state parks or local campgrounds, completing a variety of work projects. This time away from the residential site, known as spike, is usually 1 to 3 weeks long. The Summer Youth Program has 13 crews each include six to seven corpsmembers and one to two Crew Leaders. Youth and Staff will be divided into crews that will stay together for roughly 4 weeks (Session A). Mid-summer there is a weekend off for all youth and staff. Once everyone returns new crews will be made for the remaining 4 weeks (Session B). Work projects will vary from week to week for each crew, taking staff and youth to different locations throughout the summer. One goal of MCC is to provide diversity in our projects. MCC'ers work hard, rain or shine, on a variety of outdoor natural resource and service projects. Projects in the past have included, trail maintenance and construction, foot bridge construction, invasive exotic species removal, building retention walls for erosion control, and wildlife projects. MCC provides a service to other resource agencies and the community by completing high priority conservation projects. We expect our corpsmembers (staff and youth) to work hard and uphold the mission of MCC. Much of the work is exhausting but the rewards are great. Whatever the job, MCC staff and youth will learn new job skills and learn to work as a team. Spike Trips Crew Leaders and Assistant Crew Leaders will be assigned spike projects throughout the summer in a variety of locations. Spike trips are work projects that are completed outside the daily travel distance of the residential site, and can last anywhere between 1 to 3 weeks. Crews typically camp in tents and prepare their own meals at a campsite near the work project. Past spike trips have occurred at Voyageurs National Park, the Superior National Forest, many state parks, non-profit nature preserves, and a variety of other conservation organizations throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Education Component Corpsmembers in the program are taught environmental awareness, natural history, life skills, career and youth development, and other subjects. MCC looks to all staff in helping to facilitate the educational and weekend activities. Staff will be leading activities such as plant identification, resume writing, and cultural awareness. Weekend Activities Staff are expected to participate in and assist with all activities. Weekend activities include canoe trips, field trips, day hikes, and other outdoor adventure programs. Ninety-nine percent of what we do is outside. Weekends are also a time for housekeeping activities such as laundry runs to town with the youth. The MCC Summer Youth Program requires a serious time commitment from everyone involved. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Staff Opportunities The MCC Summer Youth Program is unique in that it involves hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing youth and staff. All participants are exposed to deaf culture as well as basic instruction in American Sign Language. The integration of deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing participants promotes learning about others and crossing cultural and communication barriers. The MCC is looking for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals that enjoy the outdoors, hard physical work, camping, and working and living with a diverse mix of people. American Sign Language Interpreters Needed As part of MCC’s program goals of offering service-learning opportunities to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, MCC is in need of ASL interpreters. Interpreters are hired to fill staff positions such as crew leaders and assistant crew leaders. They are not only interpreters, but also day-to-day supervisors of the youth leading them on work projects and educational and recreational activities. This is a challenging, yet rewarding experience to further develop ASL skills. To qualify as an interpreter during the Summer Youth Program, MCC requires that applicants take a skills assessment test. Pre-employment Qualification for all Staff A valid driver’s license and good driving record. Pass a criminal record and driver background check. Staff must be able to do outdoor physical labor, including repetitive bending and lifting of 20 pounds or more and carrying 50 pounds or more over uneven terrain. Staff must be a U.S. citizen or show proof of work eligibility. Background in education, natural resources, community service, or related fields. Staff must be at least 19 years of age for Crew Leader and Assistant Crew Leader positions. Strong desire to work with and supervise high school-aged youth. Previous leadership experience with diverse groups of youth. Staff must possess confidence, a strong work ethic, problem solving abilities sound judgment, creativity, humor, and maturity. Summer Staff FAQs Daily Schedule Summer Program Tour and Photo Gallery 2007 Summer Calendar Summer Staff Job Opportunities Summer Staff Flyer