Restoring Resources. Changing Lives.

At Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, youth and young adults grow as environmental stewards and leaders while giving back to the community through meaningful service.

Explore Positions

Browse opportunities that provide a meaningful experience while impacting the environment and your community.

Join the Corps

Programs

Field Crews

Field Crews serve outdoors restoring habitat, managing natural resources, and occasionally responding to natural disasters or community needs.

Individual Placements

Individual Placement members serve directly with nonprofit or government agencies focused on natural resource management, forestry, and community outreach.

Increasing Diversity in Environmental Careers

Fellows participate in a fellowship, mentorship, and internship program focused on natural resources while pursuing a STEM degree in college.

I Can Camp! & I Can Paddle!

Outdoor Recreation Instructors serve alongside the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources teaching families camping or paddling skills and educating the public about local ecology and natural resources.

Summer Youth Corps

Youth participants connect with the outdoors through paid hands-on conservation work during this summer residential program. AmeriCorps members spend the summer living outdoors while leading and supervising the youth.

Energy Corps

Energy Corps Members are trained to survey public and nonprofit facilities, helping to reduce carbon footprints and improve community health. When not conducting energy audits, members support natural resource projects.

three people using loppers in the forest while wearing yellow hardhats and other PPE

Youth Education

AmeriCorps members empower high school youth to become leaders in their communities, explore future career opportunities in environmental fields, and learn hands-on skills in the outdoors.

3,420

miles of trails & waterways improved or maintained

354,256

trees, shrubs, & forbs planted

1,911

youth & young adults engaged

Testimonials

“It’s a great experience. You make life-long friends and it’s not only impacting you, it’s impacting the whole community.”

Debraha Omot Summer Youth Corps Crew Leader

“Being able to be in a park every single day has been the part that I enjoy the most.”

Clara Brown Individual Placement Member

“You get a fire certification, and then there’s a sawyer certification as well. That’s basically what I came for was the certs and I got a lot more than that.”

Tanner Wilkins Iowa Field Crew Member

“I’ve learned a lot of new concrete trail building techniques. That’s really valuable, but I think maybe more valuable is meeting people who are in a similar place in their life as me and are similarly motivated.”

Carl Bohacek Summer Youth Corps Crew Leader

Latest Updates & Stories

Where Are They Now? Alumni Highlight: Zach Pickard

Alumni Stories

2/25/2026

Let’s catch up with Zach Pickard! Karolyn served with CCMI as an AmeriCorps member in 2010, based in Moose Lake. Now he lives in Huntsville,… Read More

Where Are They Now? Alumni Highlight: Karolyn Preiss

Alumni Stories

1/28/2026

Let’s catch up with Karolyn Preiss! Karolyn served with CCMI in 2023 as a Field Crew/AmeriCorps member, partnering with the Three Rivers Park District. Since… Read More

Where Are They Now? Alumni Highlight: Christopher Jurewitsch

Alumni Stories

12/19/2025

Let’s catch up with Christopher Jurewitsch! Christopher first participated as a youth in CCMI’s Summer Youth Corps program in 2015 and then returned in 2017… Read More

All Stories & Updates