ROLLA, Mo. —High School students working as summer hires for the Mark Twain National Forest will learn the long-lasting value of working hard in an outdoor setting, as they care for public land. Participants will develop essential workforce skillsets with pine and oak trees as their office backdrop. Selected individuals will cultivate an appreciation for nature, and a stewardship mindset that will stick with them for life.
Youth, 15-18 years of age, can now apply for Mark Twain National Forest summer jobs on the Salem Ranger District (Salem, Mo.) and Eleven Point Ranger District (Doniphan, Mo.) through the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program. Applicants are not required to live in the local area but must be capable of reporting daily to the job location. The application window is open now and will close March 29. Candidates selected for the program will be notified by April 5 about next steps. Selectees will then work June 3 through August 2.
Previous YCC participants report that this experience helped them build confidence for applying for other jobs, as they found they were capable of doing more than they initially thought possible. Another common feedback heard from past YCC participants is that they really enjoyed working in an environment focused on teamwork and appreciated the opportunity to learn so much from experienced employees during their summer.
The YCC program is a paid summer work program for youth, both male and female, designed to develop an understanding and appreciation of the environment. Enrollees will be paid a wage of $15.00 per hour for a 40-hour work week. Participants will gain work experience across multiple Forest Service programs. Duties include maintaining campgrounds and trails, assisting with heritage site management, and improving wildlife habitat. Each selected applicant must provide their own work boots, proper work clothes and bring their own lunches.
YCC applicants need to be prepared for physical work in an outdoor environment under potentially adverse weather conditions and rough terrain. The program requires participants to provide their own daily transportation to the assigned Forest Service work location, meeting at the District Office in the morning. From the office, they will carpool in a Forest Service vehicle to an outdoor worksite on most days.
If you are the appropriate age for the program and are interesting in career opportunities in public lands conservation and recreation, please download and complete the YCC application at fs.usda.gov/goto/mtnf/YCC and return it to the Forest Service office in Salem or Doniphan:
- Salem Ranger District: 1301 South Main; Salem, MO 65560.
Phone: (573) 729-6656. - Eleven Point Ranger District: 4 Confederate Ridge Rd, Doniphan, MO 63935.
Phone (573) 996-2153.
If you have questions about the program or the application process, contact Natalie Casey at natalie.casey@usda.gov. For more information on Mark Twain National Forest, visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf.