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Crew

Youth Outdoors

At a Glance

Durations

AmeriCorps: Full-year, Six-month, Three-month, Youth: Two-month

Regions

Minnesota, Twin Cities

Age Ranges

15-18 (Youth), 18-25 (AmeriCorps)

Eligibility

  • AmeriCorps members must be a US Citizen, national, or permanent resident
  • AmeriCorps members must not have more than three prior AmeriCorps service terms
  • Youth participants must be from households at/below 80% local median income
  • Youth participants must be current Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Dakota County or Minneapolis high school students in Minnesota

Interest Areas

  • Education & Community Outreach
  • Habitat Management & Improvement
  • Parks
  • Prescribed Burning
  • Urban Ecology
  • Youth Engagement
Find Open Positions

The Youth Outdoors program connects Twin Cities youth, ages 15-18, to the natural environment through paid conservation and community improvement projects while they gain job experience and college/career skills for the future. Young adults, ages 18-25, serve as AmeriCorps members who lead the youth in educational and service-learning activities and complete challenging, but impactful conservation projects as part of a field crew when not leading youth.

Youth Outdoors AmeriCorps members grow personally and professionally during their service term while gaining hands-on conservation skills in the field and receiving youth development training. In the spring and fall AmeriCorps members supervise, motivate, direct, and coordinate youth in a rigorous program of work, education, and training during after-school and weekend hours.

Through this work program youth participants make new friends, build practical skills, engage with nature, grow as active citizens and leaders, and prepare for future education and employment. The program focuses on youth development and job training, with environmental conservation as a learning vehicle.

Young adults, ages 18-25, who join our Youth Outdoors program are committing to a full-time AmeriCorps experience for a full-year, six-month, or three-month term.

AmeriCorps is a national service program that addresses challenges in our communities through the dedicated service of its members. AmeriCorps serve directly with nonprofit organizations (like Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa) to tackle our nation’s most pressing challenges. Members join to give back to their communities while gaining a foundation of marketable skills for natural resource careers. All young adults who join our Youth Outdoors program are enrolled as AmeriCorps members, volunteering to serve their community through environmental stewardship and youth engagement.