Youth Conservation Corps at Work

YCCers Shelby Holland and Gabriel Lauer with Refuge Biologist Vic Doig on a shorebird survey.

Each summer, the Lower Suwannee NWR participates in the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program. It is a federal government, summer youth employment program hiring teens from 15 through 18 years old, who are permanent US residents with a work permit and Social Security number.  The work is at participating national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and fish hatcheries. It is intended to develop an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. YCC programs are 8 to 10 weeks and members are paid the minimum wage for a 40-hour work week.

This year, the Refuge is hosting two summer YCC Students:  Shelby Holland from Chiefland, who was the YCC Youth Leader last year, and Gabriel Lauer from Cedar Key.  They are working as a team on various Refuge maintenance projects including, but not limited to mowing, rehabbing the yellow gates, garbage and cleaning details, posting signs, and assisting Crystal River NWR YCCers.

Teens who would be interested in applying for a YCC job for a future summer should text or call Refuge Manager Andrew Gude at 703.622.3896.