The California Conservation Corps is a service organization that offers community service activities, professional training, and emergency response to young people between 18 and 25 years old. It was founded in 1976 and modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps. Members can participate in special programs and may be eligible for civil service jobs or scholarships. The organization is supported by the CCC Foundation.
The California Conservation Corps (CCC) is a service organization in the US state of California. CCC members participate in a wide variety of community service activities, ranging from clearing trails in state parks to emergency response. Membership in the Corps is open to people between the ages of 18 and 25 who are ready to put in serious and hard work.
The organization was founded in 1976 and modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. The Civilian Conservation Corps put young people to work during the Great Depression in the United States. Many excellent projects are credited to this organization, ranging from housing in national parks to building roads in cities across the nation. The founders of the California Conservation Corps took the model of hard work for the benefit of society and set out to apply it in California.
CCC members typically serve for one year, although tours can be expanded or shortened, as needed. The California Conservation Corps offers full-service residential programs, for people who want more structure, and also allows Corps members to commute to work from private homes. In all cases, the California Conservation Corps offers professional training in a broad range of fields, including environmental conservation, fire response, park construction and maintenance. Upon graduation, members can market their expertise when applying for jobs.
If a community sees a need for the California Conservation Corps team, it can approach the organization, specifying the type of project and requesting a team. Most teams have 10-15 people, who are fully equipped with the tools and equipment they need. Crews could restore trails in parks, help count salmon for survey purposes, repair roads, or build homes for people in need. The California Conservation Corps also responds to major emergencies such as fires, earthquakes and floods, providing field labor to help communities across the state.
People who join the Corps can participate in special programs like the Backcountry Program, which sends teams out into the wilderness to work the trails in good weather. Applicants can also apply for international exchanges around the world, where CCC members help with things like disaster response and habitat restoration. Upon graduation, Corps members may be eligible for civil service jobs or special scholarships if they want to pursue higher education.
The California Conservation Corps’ work is supported by the CCC Foundation, a partner organization that helps fill funding shortfalls. The Foundation also funds scholarships and other opportunities for Corps members. The Foundation was created in 1988, out of concern that the CCC might not be able to continue otherwise.
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