About

• Safety: At the office and in the field, we actively support the physical and psychological safety of each participant, staff member, board member, and partner.
• Justice: We name and challenge the deep-rooted exclusion of marginalized groups that limit access to our programming and its benefits. At the same time, we are diligent about identifying and providing the support that participants, staff, board members, and partners need to be successful.​
• Stewardship: We celebrate Earth’s intrinsic value and consider ourselves part of its ecosystem. We recognize the interconnectedness of injustices against people and the planet, intentionally examine our choices, and evolve accordingly.​
• Community: It is our privilege to be of service to each other, our community, and the planet. We seek to be trusted allies and partners, working with others to maximize the positive impacts on people and the planet.​
• Leadership: We believe everyone has the capacity to positively contribute and grow as a leader.​

Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and AmeriCorps grantee, engages hundreds of youth and young adults each year in programs and initiatives that improve access to outdoor recreation, restore natural habitat, protect waterways, and respond to community needs and natural disasters.

All Conservation Corps programs devote 20 percent of program time to technical skills training, career-building skills such as resume writing and interviewing, and educational activities focused on environmental science and technology. Using scientific inquiry and experiential learning, Conservation Corps inspires youth and young adults to learn more about the world around them and think critically about the impact of their personal choices on the environment and their community.

AmeriCorps is the federal agency connecting individuals and organizations through service and volunteering to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges. Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through thousands of nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations, joining more than 1.2 million Americans who’ve taken the pledge to “get things done” since the program’s inception in 1994.

As an AmeriCorps grantee, AmeriCorps members serve directly with Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa to give back to their communities while gaining a foundation of marketable skills for their future. Young adults, ages 18-35, who join our programs are enrolled as AmeriCorps members, volunteering to serve their community through environmental stewardship.