The California Conservation Corps

Programs Offered: 

Culinary
Emergency Response 

Forestry 

Habitat Restoration 

Resource Conservation 

Trails

Veterans Fisheries

Wildland Firefighting

Description of The California Conservation Corps

"The California Conservation Coprs is a youth workforce development program dedicated to preparing young adults for meaningful careers and educational opportunities. The CCC is a state department within the California Natural Resources Agency. We are the largest and longest running conservation corps in the nation. 

Our Corpsmembers come from all across California. With no educational requirements to join, the CCC welcomes young adults from all educational and economic backgrounds. 

• 1,587 Corpsmember positions are available

• Approximately 3,000 Corpsmembers enroll each year 

• Corpsmembers must be between the ages of 18 and 25 and California residents

• Military veterans up to age 29 may also enroll

• Corpsmembers come from all over the state and reflect the diversity of California. The top three counties where Corpsmembers come from: San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino

• The average length of stay is about nine months

Read more here: ccc.ga.gov/about-us/

Description of Training

• Culinary

  •  "The California Conservation Corps trains young adults for careers in commercial kitchens, resorts, catering companies, and restaurants....Corpsmembers enrolled in the program earn industry-recognized credentials, starting with their ServSafe Food Handler certificate."

• Emergency Response

  •  "The California Conservation Coprs partners with Cal OES, CAL FIRE, Department of Water Resources, and other emergency response agences to respond to natural and human-made disasters across California... All Corpsmembers enrolled in the program receive training and certifications so they can confidently engage in emergency response activities."

• Forestry 

  •  "Coprsmembes enrolled in the CCC complete an array of projects such as planting young trees, collecting cones and seeds, and removing invasive and/or fire-prone vegetation...Coprsmembers may receive arborist training and certifications. Professional development courses, offered in collaboration with industry and community college partners, also prepare young adults for future careers in forestry." 

• Habitat Restoration

  •  "The [CCC] partners with State Parks, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other organizations to enhance and restore California's landscapes and watersheds... Corpsmembers assigned to natural resource, or grade, crews receive training and certifications so they can confidently engage in habitat restoriation projects. Professional development courses, offered in collaboration with industry and community college partners, also prepare young adults for future careers." 

• Resource Conservation 

  •  "CCC Corpsmembers may complete a variety of projects such as building or maintaining park facilities, installing signage, retrogitting energy systems, conducting energy surveys, installing solar panels or EV chaarging stations, creating defensible space, and reducing flood risk in communities...Corpsmembers... receive training and certifications so they can confidently engage in project activities. Professional development courses...also prepare young adults for future careers." 

• Trails

  •  "The California Conservation Corps partners with California State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, county and city parks departments and area non-profits to construct and maintain trails for public recreation...Project work often includes clearing brush, rebuilding trail tread, installing rip rap on steep grades, constructing bridges or boardwalks, building dry stone masonry, and other trail construction techniques and methods."

• Veterans Fisheries 

  •  "The [CCC] partners with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to operate the NOAA-CCC Veterans Fisheries Corps Program, with support provided by U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The program enables U.S. Military Veterans to monitor species of concern and restore habitat for endangered fish populations." 

• Wildland Firefighting

  • "Corpsmembers enrolled in this program remove hazardous fire fuels, cut fire line, lay hose, participate in controlled burns, and mop up wildland fires...Training is consistent with state and federal partner requirements, preparing yound adults for future careers in the fire service. Corpsmembers earn wildland firefighting certifications..."