Idaho Conservation Corps offers a challenging education and job-training experience that helps youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds develop the skills they need to lead full and productive lives.
Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC) is a state wide program of Northwest Youth Corps.
Northwest Youth Corps (established in 1984) and Idaho Conservation Corps provide opportunities for youth and young adults to learn, grow, and experience success. Our programs focus on education, challenge, community, leadership, and empowerment, and typically include epic outdoor experiences in some of the most wild and scenic places on Earth.
Our Idaho programs include residential conservation crews for both youth and young adults and an internship program for college aged participants.
Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC) is a state wide program of Northwest Youth Corps.
Northwest Youth Corps (established in 1984) and Idaho Conservation Corps provide opportunities for youth and young adults to learn, grow, and experience success. Our programs focus on education, challenge, community, leadership, and empowerment, and typically include epic outdoor experiences in some of the most wild and scenic places on Earth.
Our Idaho programs include residential conservation crews for both youth and young adults and an internship program for college aged participants.
Our programs are designed to help you gain the fundamental job skills, experience, and work ethic needed to reach any career goal – be it teacher, doctor, or wilderness ranger. Our programs have something to offer both a teenager looking for their first summer work experience and a recent college grad needing specific certifications to land their dream job. No matter the path you are on, we can help you reach your goals!
It is important to know that the work you do matters! We partner with land management agencies and like-minded non-profits across the west to complete high priority conservation projects designed to improve the lands and communities we serve. Typical projects include trail building, fuels reduction, habitat enhancement, stream restoration, and a host of other activities our interns perform, like monitoring bats in Idaho caves!
Immerse yourself in the wilds of Idaho. Play a vital role in improving public lands and the environment.
The residential Youth Camping program combines education and job skills training with outdoor adventure for 16 to 18 year olds. With the guidance of experienced field staff, youth crew members work on conservation, reforestation, and recreation projects, while developing leadership and teamwork skills. Crews camp for their entire session, traveling to new projects often and pursuing outdoor adventures on the weekends.
Benefits: Earn a weekly stipend and bonuses plus potential school credit
Backcountry Leadership Program (BLP) provides additional leadership skills and training for those who excelled in a previous youth camping session. BLP’ers hike deep into secluded wilderness areas and work on intense, challenging, and technical projects, while practicing skills like goal setting, time management, positive motivation, and group leadership.
Benefits: Earn a weekly stipend and bonuses plus potential school credit
Gain certifications and work experience needed to open career pathways towards your dream job. Play a vital role in improving our public lands and the environment.
Our young adult program is designed to provide hands-on training and experience to those interested in conservation corps, land and water resource management agencies, and other outdoor careers. The program integrates team-based work projects, education, and on-site vocational training into an experience that prioritizes personal growth, and the development of conservation work skills. Participants develop technical skills working on a variety of conservation projects while developing the soft skills needed to be successful in any career field.
Benefits: Earn a stipend and AmeriCorps education award
The Leadership Development Program (LDP) offers advanced training to aspiring outdoor enthusiasts interested in pursuing leadership roles with conservation and outdoor organizations.
Participants develop hard skills working on technical conservation projects while developing the soft skills required to successfully lead groups in the outdoors.
Benefits: Earn a stipend and AmeriCorps education award
Our Internship Program provides training and hands-on experience with land and water resource management agencies, such as the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state organizations and non-profits, in Idaho, Northern California, Oregon and Washington.
Benefits: stipend and benefits vary based on position
Our field staff perform many roles and are the key to our program’s success. They understand that being a leader is much more than being a boss. They have the drive, commitment, and mental toughness to carry them through the unexpected challenges that arise at the most inopportune of times: a remote location with bad weather, in the middle of trying to complete a mile of new trail, finish a bridge, or eradicate an invasive species. The position is multi-faceted and demanding, but makes an ideal setting for testing yourself and your leadership skills.
Benefits: compensation varies based on position
Northwest Youth Corps believes diversity is a key source of strength for our communities, and we strive to create a safe and empowering environment for participants from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. We are deeply invested in the success of youth and young adults of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, sexual orientations, economic statuses, or other socio-cultural identifiers. A key element of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is fielding single-identity affinity crews and internships to support communities historically under-served in the outdoor space.
Our All-Women’s Crews provide women (including cisgender and trans-women) who have historically been excluded from conservation and outdoor careers, the opportunity to gain job-skills and exposure to careers in parks and natural resource management.
These crews will carry out conservation projects under the supervision of a trained and experienced female crewleader, with other conservation professionals providing project guidance and mentoring.
In addition to the scheduled work projects, participants will learn more about careers through education provided by staff, who will also help these young women identify potential pathways to implement their goals.
By Clayton Lenz, ICC Program Coordinator | Dec. 2022 originally published for Idaho Conservation league blog Since 1991, Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC) has been empowering youth and …
By: Jack L, 2022 ICC Participant You arrive at your campsite just before sunset. The day started with breakfast at a cozy cafe, complete with a …
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