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, energy, 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.

Youth Outdoors

Youth participants earn a paycheck while learning about the natural environment through conservation and community improvement projects. AmeriCorps members lead the youth in educational and service-learning activities and serve as Field Crews when not leading youth.

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.

Iowa Monarch Habitat Project

Iowa Monarch Crews travel and camp throughout the state while collecting data related to monarch butterfly habitat.

8,443

miles of trails & waterways improved or maintained

644,771

trees, shrubs, & forbs planted

2,529

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

“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

Real World Experience

Member Stories

1/6/2022

By Alyssia Bell, IDEC fellow School is fantastic; learning new things, finding your passion, and making friends along the way is what college/university means… Read More

Kindred Spirits

Member Stories

12/20/2021

By Alyssia Bell, IDEC fellow I am not Drake, who once said, “No new friends, no new friends, no, no, no.” I, for one,… Read More

Photos from the Forest

Member Stories

12/2/2021

by Jenny Sherren, North District Field Crew Member/ AmeriCorps Member We have less than a month left in our term this year and I am shocked… Read More

All Stories & Updates