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Crew Members

Crew Member Opportunities (ages 14-18)

Gain work experience through challenging and meaningful projects. Learn how to restore forests, prairies, and wetlands in Iowa. Use teamwork and gain outdoor skills.
 
Spend about 75% of your time working on outdoor projects. You might maintain trails, remove invasive plants, plant seedlings, or pick up trash. At other times, you will learn about leadership and the environment or try outdoor recreation. The program will include at least one required overnight camping trip.
 
Each crew meets at the same designated site each day.
Once you get there, we provide transportation, a daily snack, lunch on Saturdays and all summer days, uniform t-shirts, safety gear, instruction, and supervision for each project. You will have the chance to work hard, make friends, have fun, and earn some money while helping public lands!
Basic Requirements
  • Interested in working outside
  • Eager to contribute positively to a team
  • Attentive and receptive to instruction
  • Able to responsibly use tools and follow safety guidelines

Physical Expectations

  • Plan to move around a lot during Youth Corps. Days will involve standing, walking, sitting, squatting, kneeling, reaching, using hand tools, communicating, and other related tasks.
  • Reasonable accommodations may be provided.
  • The program is held outdoors where you may experience cold, heat, humidity, sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy, or other natural elements common in Iowa. 

 

Program Details

SPRING 2025 

Get out of the house and work outside in parks this spring. This 5-week spring session meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school (4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) and four Saturdays (8 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.). This crew experience will include an overnight camping trip in Iowa during the session. We provide transportation, equipment, tools, training, and food. For teenagers who want to make a difference in the outdoors.

  • Work | 5 weeks - Tuesdays & Thursdays after school + 3 Saturdays
  • Dates | March 25th-April 24th 2025 + Overnight camping trip 
  • Earn | $400 Stipend 
  • Apply | CLOSED February 28th

 

 

SUMMER 2025

Summer session runs 4 weeks meeting Monday through Friday. There are two sessions to apply for in June and again in July. Youth ages 14-18 form daytime summer crews. Teams of 10 teens and 2 adult leaders work on challenging projects that help the community and learn fun outdoor skills each week. Everyone earns a weekly stipend. We provide transportation, equipment, tools, training, and food. For teenagers who want to make a difference in the outdoors

  • Work | 4 weeks - Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Dates:
    • Session 1: June 6th - July 3rd - APPLICATIONS CLOSED FOR JUNE
    • Session 2: July 9th - August 6th
  • Earn | $200 Stipend per week ($800 total) + 2-night camping trip in a Polk County Park 
  • Apply | Applications closed for June. July applications close 6/5

FALL 2025

The 8-week fall session meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school (4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m) and four Saturdays (8 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.). This crew experience will include an overnight camping trip in Iowa during the session. We provide transportation, equipment, tools, training, and food. For teenagers who want to make a difference in the outdoors.

  • Work | 8 weeks - Tuesdays & Thursdays (4:30 pm - 7:00 pm), four Saturdays (8:00 am - 3:00pm) + Overnight camping trip (Saturday & return Sunday)
  • Dates | September 2nd - October 23rd 
  • Earn | $600
  • Apply | Applications open June 2025

Request notifications for fall or future positions: Click Here

Polk County is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, genetic information, the presence of disability or any other legally protected status. Persons of color, women, and veterans are encouraged to apply.