Conservation Corps

THE MISSION OF CONSERVATION CORPS MINNESOTA & IOWA IS TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN MEANINGFUL SERVICE, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

THE AMERICORPS FIELD PROGRAM ENGAGES YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 18 TO 25, IN NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DISASTER RESPONSE THROUGHOUT THE UPPER MIDWEST. IN 2021, 171 PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN NATIONAL SERVICE ROLES RESTORING HABITAT THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST. FIELD MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED 210,562 HOURS OF SERVICE THIS YEAR, REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES AND HAZARD TREES FROM 9,099 ACRES; PLANTING 57,004 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS; CONDUCTING PRESCRIBED BURNS ON 10,674 ACRES OF PRAIRIE; CONSTRUCTING OR IMPROVING 731 MILES OF TRAIL; INSTALLING OR MAINTAINING 162,426 SQUARE FEET OF RAIN GARDENS; CONTROLLING EROSION ON 137,938 SQUARE FEET OF SHORELINE. AMERICORPS MEMBERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND AN EDUCATION AWARD FOR COLLEGE EXPENSES. BESIDE CAREER AND WORK-SKILLS TRAINING, MEMBERS RECEIVE CERTIFICATIONS IN WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION, DEFENSIVE DRIVING, CHAINSAW SAFETY AND FIRST AID.

IN 2021, CCMI YOUTH PROGRAMMING FACED CONTINUED DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC; HOWEVER, CCMI SUCCESSFULLY RESUMED LIMITED YOUTH PROGRAMMING (AGES 15-18) WITH STRICT COVID PROTOCOLS IN 2021. THE RESIDENTIAL SUMMER YOUTH CORPS ENGAGES DIVERSE YOUTH, AGES 15-18, IN ENVIRONMENTAL-RESTORATION PROJECTS DURING TWO SUMMER SESSIONS, EACH FOUR WEEKS LONG. IN 2021, 32 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS, 18 AMERICORPS MEMBERS, AND 3 PART-TIME STAFF COMPLETED 12,281 HOURS OF TRAINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS. THIS PAST YEAR, CREWS BUILT AND MAINTAINED 6.8 MILES OF TRAIL, MAINTAINED 9 CAMPSITES, REMOVED INVASIVE SPECIES FROM 161 ACRES, AND COMPLETED 2,665 HOURS OF TRAINING AND GENERAL SERVICE. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A LIVING STIPEND AS WELL AS ROOM AND BOARD. AMERICORPS MEMBERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND AN EDUCATION AWARD FOR COLLEGE EXPENSES.

IN 2021, CCMI YOUTH PROGRAMMING FACED CONTINUED DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC; HOWEVER, CCMI SUCCESSFULLY RESUMED LIMITED YOUTH PROGRAMMING (AGES 15-18) WITH STRICT COVID PROTOCOLS IN 2021. YOUTH OUTDOORS IS AN AFTERSCHOOL SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM FOR TWIN CITIES YOUTH, AGES 15-18 FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. YOUTH PARTICIPATE FOR ONE ACADEMIC SEMESTER AT A TIME, MEETING TWO DAYS A WEEK AFTER SCHOOL AND ON SATURDAYS TO EXPLORE SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMPLETE PROJECTS TO IMPROVE PARKS AND RESTORE RESOURCES. SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. IN 2021, 47 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS AND 37 AMERICORPS MEMBERS COMPLETED 36,248 HOURS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS. THIS PAST YEAR, YOUTH OUTDOORS PARTICIPANTS MANAGED EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES ON 626 ACRES OF LAND, PLANTED 25,606 TREES AND SHRUBS, REMOVED 650 POUNDS OF DEBRIS, AND ENGAGED IN 5,873 HOURS OF TRAINING. YOUTH PARTICIPANTS EARN AN HOURLY WAGE. AMERICORPS MEMBERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND, HEALTH INSURANCE AND AN EDUCATION AWARD FOR COLLEGE EXPENSES. IN ADDITION TO CAREER AND WORK-SKILLS TRAINING, MEMBERS RECEIVE CERTIFICATIONS IN WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION, DEFENSIVE DRIVING, CHAINSAW SAFETY AND FIRST AID.

SINGLE PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICORPS MEMBERS ENGAGE YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 18 TO 25, IN NATURAL RESOURCE, ENERGY CONSERVATION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE WORK. IN 2021, 15 PARTICIPANTS SERVED TERMS ON SPECIAL PROJECTS WITH A VARIETY OF LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND NONPROFITS; AND 6 SERVED SUMMER TERMS COMPLETING NATURAL RESOURCE PROJECTS. AMERICORPS MEMBERS DEDICATED A TOTAL 22,051 HOURS OF SERVICE AND TRAINING. CORPS MEMBERS PLANTED 8,259 NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS, CONDUCTED DIGITAL MAPPING AND DATA COLLECTION ON 17,524 ACRES, COLLECTED 568 WATER QUALITY SAMPLES, CONDUCTED 373 USER SURVEYS, AND PROVIDED EDUCATION TO 2,274 PEOPLE. AMERICORPS MEMBERS RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND AN EDUCATION AWARD FOR COLLEGE EXPENSES.INCREASING DIVERSITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS (IDEC) ENGAGES COLLEGE STUDENTS PURSUING STEM DEGREES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN NATURAL RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY SEEKS TO ENGAGE STUDENTS FROM BACKGROUNDS TYPICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN NATURAL RESOURCE CAREERS, INCLUDING WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CONSERVATION CORPS, THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY, THE MINNESOTA BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES AND THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A FELLOWSHIP, MENTORSHIP AND PAID INTERNSHIP. IN 2021, 12 STUDENTS JOINED THE THIRD COHORT. STUDENTS GATHERED WITH CONSERVATION CORPS AND MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES STAFF FOR ORIENTATION, MET ONE-ON-ONE WITH STAFF TO DISCUSS ACADEMIC AND CAREER GOALS AND COMPLETED A WORKSHOP ON EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS. 43 STUDENTS RECEIVED A FELLOWSHIP PAYMENT TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC EXPENSES FOR THE FALL 2021 SEMESTER.