The education program consists of environmental, life skills, career oriented and academic education. Corpsmembers are also eligible to earn an AmeriCorps Education Award for higher education ranging from $1,000.00 to $2,362.50. In 2005, WCCC has successfully piloted a summer employment and education for 14-15 year olds, designed to instill work ethic and provide a sample of what it takes to be a corpsmember.

During the course of a year, WCCC employs and provides training to over 65 young adults. The youth complete over 30,000 hours of field work and 11,000 hours of education/training. Eager youth jump at the opportunity to compile goals into a goal folder designed to be implemented for their future.

The education program is then shaped toward compiled goals and environmental projects. Each youth is tracked through the program and is given guidance toward their long and short term goals which range from completing high school, earning a GED and learning the steps it takes to enroll into college or other higher educational avenues. WCCC works collaboratively with the local Work Force Center for added opportunities.

WCCC of Partners has three types of program sessions.

The year round program consists of six to eight youth, an Education Mentor and a Crew Leader. This program is 900 hours and operates from January through May and again at the beginning of June through December. Youth on the year round crew, earn an AmeriCorps Education Award to use in advancing their education, which is valued at $2,362.50, in addition to a paid wage.

The second session is 300 hours. The crews consist of eight to ten youth, an Education Mentor, a Crew Leader and are employed at the beginning of June through the second week of August. The crews are considered summer crews and AmeriCorps eligible youth are able to earn an Education Award, valued at $1,000.00 along with a paid wage.

The third program is during the summer as well. These sessions run for one month. There are two sessions for this program, one is in June and one is in July. Youth on these crews are between the ages of 14-15. These crews consist of six members and two Crew Leaders. WCCC fills six to eight summer crews for older youth and two summer crews for the 14-15 year olds.

From project planning to completion, it is easy to use WCCC as the crews are turn-key operations geared to getting the job done. WCCC is often considered the workforce that private and public entities can rely on. Many projects do not lend themselves to the efforts of one to two full-time staff, nor are they appropriate for weekend volunteers. WCCC fill this niche nicely to complete large quantities of work in a short amount of time.

Projects suitable for WCCC crews are labor intensive, have an impact that lasts more than one year and lend them to quality education advancements. For example, a weed eradication project in which corpsmembers can learn about native plants and wildlife, perform weed identification and learn about the negative effects of invasive species is a high quality project.

Project examples of WCCC include:

• Trail construction and maintenance

• Habitat restoration

• Tree planting and mulching

• Fence construction and maintenance

• Fire fuel reduction

• Burned area rehabilitation

• Riparian and wetland restoration

A $100,000.00 timber-axe was added to the cache of tools and will be instrumental in areas inundated by invasive species along riparian areas and other conservation efforts. The timber-axe was a donation from the Tamarisk Coalition.

In July of 2005, the WCCC was recognized as an Enterprise Zone, which is a method that contributors can receive a tax credit of 25% for cash and 12.5% for in-kind donations. WCCC is an accredited member of Colorado Youth Corps Association.

For more information, please visit the office at 735 South Avenue. You can call Sarah Daugherty or Director Rusty Lloyd at (970) 241-1027.

“The Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC) is currently accepting applications from youth and young adults who are seeking employment. Applications can be picked up at 735 South Avenue or 1169 Colorado Avenue. WCCC is a branch of Mesa County Partners. The individuals who are hired, will be working in a crew/team atmosphere in Western Colorado. The basic work consists of environmental, wildlife habitat, trail construction, noxious weed removal, etc. Call 241-1027 for more information.”