The Mile High Youth Corps’ Land Conservation Program engages young adults, ages 18-24, in conservation-based work focused on environmental improvements on public land. Participants work on small crews with 7-9 members for three months to two years, dependent on enrollment terms. Crews works includes increasing accessibility for the public, restoring native habitats, and mitigating the effects of catastrophic wildfires and floods. Earning a bi-weekly stipend and an AmeriCorps education award, young people from all economic backgrounds can afford to serve their community and invest in their own personal growth.
Corpsmembers receive an education focused on environmental stewardship, civic engagement, healthy living, career readiness, leadership, and social justice. Education at MHYC takes place primarily in the field, with three hours designated for education per week. All crews receive significant tool safety and risk management training. Skill training is tailored for each project and may include: trail construction, native plant and invasive species identification, tree planting, flood and erosion mitigation techniques, and fence construction. Corpsmembers receive First-Aid/CPR and S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certifications.
Sawyer Crew: Corpsmembers operate chainsaws on invasive tree removal and wildland fire mitigation projects. They receive First-Aid/CPR and S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certifications. Some sawyers will have the opportunity to receive pesticide application training. The use of pesticide is common on invasive tree removal projects.
Hand Crew: Corpsmembers receive training in safe and efficient use of hand tools and/or pesticide application to complete a wide variety of projects. Examples include: trail maintenance and construction, noxious weed removal, pesticide application, and other park development projects.
Fire Crew: Corpsmembers are trained as US Forest Service Type 2 Firefighters and receive their interagency Red Card making them eligible for wildland fire assignments. In addition, Corpsmembers complete fire mitigation projects on US Forest Service lands in the west Denver metro area. Fire mitigation projects include forest thinning and slash pile burning.
Land Conservation Opportunities
A Day in the Life Of Land Conservation Corpsmembers
"I am more confident in building community. My previous jobs and school experience were isolating. Being in an environment where I get to learn and interact with my peers has made a big impact on me." - Prashan G., Land Conservation
Land Conservation FAQs
No experience is required, but we do look for Corpsmembers that work well on a team and are willing to step outside their comfort zone. Leadership positions require more experience, which can be gained through previous seasons of service. In terms of gear, you’ll need to provide boots, pants and a bag. If you are having any trouble obtaining any of these items we can help you source them and, in some situations, support some of the cost of buying them. From camping gear to safety equipment, we will provide everything else you need. We do not want gear to be a barrier to your employment, so please ask about the resources we have available!
We acknowledge the historical barriers that have prevented natural resources from being an ethnically and racially diverse and inclusive field. We are committed to dismantling the barriers of systemic racism that still exist in outdoor spaces and honoring the diverse lived perspectives of our youth from Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and other multi-cultural communities. Some ways that we do this are by applying the MHYC Equity Lens to our hiring and recruitment strategies, providing education for Corpsmembers on DEI topics and running BIPOC Affinity Crews.
Transportation from our main office to project sites will be covered by MHYC using our fleet of vehicles. You will need to provide your own transportation to and from MHYC’s office. Food will be covered by MHYC if you’re serving on a camping project. For crews that are not camping, Corpsmembers are expected to prepare and bring their own lunches that can be eaten in the field. Corpsmembers will have access to our on-site food bank, and we will provide support with applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP (also known as food stamps or EBT). MHYC does not provide housing to our Corpsmembers, but we can connect you with housing resources.
MHYC partners with local municipalities and park and recreation districts, state parks and wildlife areas, federal agencies, and other non-profits organizations across the 23 counties we serve. Some of our past partners include the City and County of Denver, City of Colorado Springs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Rocky Mountain Field Institute, and many, many more.
MHYC has established educational activities that will help you understand the importance of our service, how to work on a crew, and give you professional guidance in the natural resources industry. Additional programming options might include activities designed to bond with your crew, celebrate your accomplishments, or give back to the community through additional service projects.
Hand crews complete a variety of work such as trail building and maintenance, pesticide application, habitat restoration, fence construction or removal, park development, and more. Chainsaw crews typically spend the season removing invasive tree species or forest thinning. Chainsaw crews may also serve in neighborhoods to create defensible space around homes to protect them from wildland fires or assist with post-fire erosion control.
Depending on your preference and the project work lined up for the season, your crew may either be a ‘day’ crew or a ‘camping’ crew. Day crews meet at an MHYC office each morning, travel to the project site together, and return at the end of each day. Camping crews do not return at the end of each workday and instead camp on-site to reduce travel time.
You will receive industry-recognized certifications, on-the-job training and career readiness programming to help you achieve your employment goals. Some certifications you could receive are S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws, Leave No Trace, Mental Health First Aid, First Aid/CPR and more. You will also be able to learn from, network with, and work side-by-side professionals in the natural resources industry, including park rangers, foresters, park resource technicians and naturalists.
Sawyer Crew: Corpsmembers operate chainsaws on invasive tree removal and wildland fire mitigation projects. They receive First-Aid/CPR and S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certifications. Some sawyers will have the opportunity to receive pesticide application training. The use of pesticide is common on invasive tree removal projects.
maintenance and construction, noxious weed removal, pesticide application, and other park development projects.
Fire Crew: Corpsmembers are trained as US Forest Service Type 2 Firefighters and receive their interagency Red Card making them eligible for wildland fire assignments. In addition, Corpsmembers complete fire mitigation projects on US Forest Service lands in the west Denver metro area. Fire mitigation projects include forest thinning and slash pile burning.
