Thanks for a Great Year!
Check back here in late winter for info on the 2021 program.
Hours Served May Count Towards Your High School Career Pathway Credit
Get Paid. Have Fun. Learn Cool Stuff.
Earn Pathway Credit For Graduation
To learn if your participation in YCC is eligible, indicate interest during the application process.
Learn about yourself. Learn about the environment. Learn how a job can be so much more!
Make Money. Make Friends. Make a Difference.
Serving on a team in the Delaware Conservation Corps will help you grow as a person, develop skills you never knew you had and help turn your summer job into a great outdoor adventure! The Delaware State Parks Youth Conservation Corps (DSPYCC) program provides high quality summer jobs and environmental opportunities for young people aged 16-21 (select teams 14-16) for members and 20-26 for leaders. Corps members conduct meaningful environmentally and park focused activities as a means of achieving personal growth. Through your service, you will gain skills, confidence, and see first-hand the benefit your hard work makes in providing a lasting benefit for public lands and communities. The DSPYCC is committed to engaging young people in important conservation and park projects while providing learning that fosters teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
Core components include:
- Practical job work experience
- Outdoor learning opportunities and experiences
- Job and/or college preparation
These are environmentally focused, outdoor summer jobs, not a summer camp experience; Corps members should expect to work hard, get dirty, and make a difference.
YCC Corps Members Build:
- Skills that will last a lifetime
- Friendships
- Environmentally-based knowledge and abilities
- Positive work attitudes and good work habits in a multitude of conditions
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Civic engagement and connections in their local parks and communities
- An interest in new career paths
- A stronger connection to the nature around them
- Skills and values to shape their future and their communities
Environmental Awareness and Growth
As a core component of the program, all Corps members will participate in on-going and regular environmental education and awareness programs and training to learn together and experience outdoor opportunities.
Opportunities include:
- Go-Ape Zip Line
- Beach Day
- Water Quality and Conservation
- Statewide Career Day
- Ethic of Service
- End of Program Celebration
Youth Conservation Corps Positions
2021 Positions are now filled - check back Winter 2022!
Park Resource Keeper - CLOSED
Team Locations:New Castle, Kent and Sussex County Parks
These 12 positions, six positions on a New Castle County team and six on a Kent/Sussex County team, are summer youth employment positions for young people aged 17 – 21 years of age with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Parks and Recreation. The members work as part of a team conducting park projects that impact visitor experience and conservation and trail projects throughout state parks in the teams region. All positions are seasonal positions working 28 hours per week June 21st, 2021 through August 14th, 2021.
The mission of the Delaware State Parks YCC is to engage youth in important conservation and park projects while providing learning that fosters teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
YCC Core components include:
- Practical job work experience
- Environmental education and experiences
- Job and/or college preparation.
Consideration will also be given to students who are unable to adhere to these dates as a result of snow days and school schedule in June.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all position in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.
- Assists with Park based projects.
- Assists with native and invasive plant survey and identification.
- Trail Maintenance and possible trail reconstruction/constructions projects.
- Litter cleanup and waterway and shoreline cleanup.
- Assists Conservation Technicians with grounds work throughout the park.
- Other occasional projects may include: Historic building maintenance/preservation, assist other resource management projects (including wildlife management, and environmental education), Water quality monitoring, special events set up, logistics, station assistance, and tear down.
- Must be able to demonstrate responsibility, dependability and good communication skills.
- Other duties as assigned
Job Requirements
- Must be 17 – 21 years of age
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Member - Green Jobs Team – AGES 14 -16 - CLOSED
Team Locations:
Kent County – Home Base: Killens Pond State Park
Sussex County – Home Base: Trap Pond or Cape Henlopen State Park
These twelve positions in Kent County and five in Sussex County are summer youth employment positions for young people aged 14-16 years of age with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Parks and Recreation. The members work as part of a team on various outdoor projects at partner sites within the community. Members spend 50% of their time learning from professionals in various environmental conservation and stewardship areas. All positions are seasonal positions working 28 hours per week June 21st, 2021 through August 14th, 2021.
The mission of the Delaware State Parks YCC is to engage youth in important conservation and park projects while providing learning that fosters teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment. YCC Core components include:
- Practical job work experience
- Environmental education and experiences
- Job and/or college preparation
Consideration will also be given to students who are unable to adhere to these dates as a result of snow days and school schedule in June.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all position in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.
- Assists with outdoor projects at partner sites
- Actively engage in education and training activities
- Litter cleanup and waterway and shoreline cleanup
- Other occasional projects may include: Historic building maintenance/preservation, assist other resource management projects (including wildlife management, and environmental education), Water quality monitoring, special events set up, logistics, station assistance, and tear down.
- Must be able to demonstrate responsibility, dependability and good communication skills.
- Other duties as assigned
Job Requirements
- Must be 14 - 16 years of age
Maintenance and Visitor Service Unit – AGES 16-21 - CLOSED
Team Locations: VARIED
Multiple positions statewide. Summer youth employment positions for young people aged 16-21 years of age with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Parks and Recreation. The members work as part of the staff at the park in which they’ve been placed, filling vital staffing roles in visitor service and/or grounds maintenance. All positions are seasonal positions working 28 hours per week June 21st, 2021 through August 14th, 2021.
The mission of the Delaware State Parks YCC is to engage youth in important conservation and park projects while providing learning that fosters teamwork, self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for the environment.
YCC Core components include:
- Practical job work experience
- Environmental education and experiences
- Job and/or college preparation
Consideration will also be given to students who are unable to adhere to these dates as a result of snow days and education schedule in June.
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all position in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.
- Provide regular customer service to visitors in park as set forth by Park Staff
- Actively engage in education and training activities
- Litter cleanup and waterway and shoreline cleanup
- Assists Conservation Technicians with grounds work throughout the park
- Other occasional projects may include: Historic building maintenance/preservation, assist other resource management projects (including wildlife management, and environmental education), Water quality monitoring, special events set up, logistics, station assistance, and tear down.
- Must be able to demonstrate responsibility, dependability and good communication skills.
- Some positions may require regular handling of cash
- Other duties as assigned
Job Requirements
- Must be 16 - 21 years of age
Team Leaders – AGES 20-26 - CLOSED
Locations: PRK Team North, PRK Team South, Green Jobs Kent, Green Jobs Sussex
Every team needs a dedicated, positive, dependable leader. Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Team Leaders lead a team of YCC members conducting conservation and trail projects throughout state parks within the team’s region. Leaders will coordinate activities with YCC Program Manager and work alongside professional staff of Conservation Technicians, Field Biologists and Environmental Stewardship team members. Each leader will be responsible for on-site coordination of field projects, transporting their team to various worksites, motivating team members, and taking advantage of “teachable moments”! Those selected will complete a two week training with Delaware State Parks’ professional staff including First Aid/CPR, Worksite Hazards and Safety, Becoming an Effective Leader, Positive Behavior Management, and Field Training in invasive species identification and removal.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be 20 – 26 years of age
- Valid driver’s license and good driving record required
- Must be able to work flexible hours, including some weekends
- Ability to perform hard physical outdoor work in various conditions
- Independent and responsible leader, able to lead and motivate others
- Ability to learn local flora and fauna
- Good communication skills
- Ability to learn and apply program rules, regulations, policies and procedures
