In 2013, the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) returned to Yosemite for another busy eight-week summer season. This year’s important work included restoring trails in locations such as Tuolumne Meadows, the Sentinel/Taft Point Trail, the Valley Loop Trail, Ostrander Ski Hut and Devils Postpile.

For many youth, this is their very first outdoor experience, including camping or hiking to work sites. Youth work with National Park Service trail crews and learn how to reroute trails to protect damaged resources, remove social trails, install signs and fencing, and remove overgrown brush to improve visitor access. Along the way, they gain valuable environmental and life skills that mark the beginning of a life-long commitment to protecting natural places.

With your continued support, we are creating the next generation of Yosemite stewards.

Partnering with Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), a program for 15–18-year-olds, and Yosemite National Park.

 Watch our Youth in Yosemite video.

Nick

YCC participant

Project Notes

YCC is enriching and fun, but it's not just a summer camp; enrollees do hard manual labor and complete projects the park needs. It is worthy of support, because through YCC, future rangers, firemen, trail workers and its other park staff are trained. It is not only an investment in Yosemite's present, but in its future.