corps member

natural resource technician

electrician

country manager

residential staff

California Conservation Corps

Working with California Conservation Corps is a chance at a lifetime experience. My experience was great. I got to visit Calaveras State Park and got to see enormous giant sequoia trees, breathtaking forests, great scenery, rivers, and waterways. Getting the chance to work and camp 1 week at a time was fantastic, especially with the 5 days off, if you're into that sort of thing. The kitchen and facilities always provided the food and equipment necessary to make sure I was looked out for. They could accommodate food restrictions also just as they did one fellow vegan corps member of mine. You get a chance to cook for the whole crew! I thought that was pretty exciting since I'm a decent cook. Speaking of cooking, they have positions for corps members who are interested in culinary. But that's not the only positions/career pathways that California Conservation Corps provide. There are many career pathways that this place can lead to such as firefighting, state public service, emergency services, back-country forestry services, and many more. 

A typical day at work went like this. 
1. Wake up at about 5:30 and do a quick and simple chore (such as wiping down the restroom sink, if you're living at a residential center) 
2. Eat breakfast in the dining area
3. Get ready, put on your uniform, make sure to have your day bag along with PPE, and line up at "hook line" with your assigned crew. 
4. Get briefed on current job duty and other information
5. Get tools ready and water ready then head to the project site.
Perform work which usually consists of cutting trees with chainsaws, weed eating, trimming bushes, picking up trash, planting trees, or wood chipping. 
6. Go back to the center, put tools away, line up at hook line, and eat dinner. 
7. Go to class (if you're working on getting your high school diploma) or work on  "supergrade packet" which consists of a set amount of duties that help with promotion to the next position. 
8. Do it all over again the next day. 
There's a lot you can learn being in the C's. From personal skills, to learning how to sharpen a wide range of tools. 
Workplace culture was all about exploring careers and working towards advancing personal skills.
Since you live with a lot of other people, it is also hard dealing with a lot of personalities, maybe you're not a people person or just don't like living with others, it's understandable. One of the hardest parts of the job would be staying away from intimate relationships. We're human and it's almost impossible to not be social and catch feelings for others. (Take it from me, if you know what you're doing, have at it, if not just focus on professionality.) Another challenge in this job is being able to keep up with the physical demand. It can be difficult working outdoors and putting up with intense heat or super chill weather during winter. 
The most enjoyable part of this job was getting to work and working with others respectfully. That's the best part of it. Getting a chance to work in the wild and seeing new things is also a great part of it. I got to see bears, deer, and a lot of other things. My tent even got raided by a group of cubs once for not being completely responsible. It was fun working for the CCC and encourage anyone who doesn't mind the hard work to try it. You may find a new career as a fire fighter, or Conservationist. Happy hunting!

First off if you join during the summer you will be away from center most of the season. You will ether be a firefighter or most likely you will do camp support is realllly boring. I was at center (i lived on base) that had enforced the rules more than other centers ,so you would get written up on the smallest stuff like if your boot laces were not tied at roll call. But the people I worked with (coworkers and evening staff )were nice and chill so it had a positive environment I understand some centers are toxic ,but at my center it really felt like people watched out for one another. Crew bosses and upper management can be hit or miss. Office staff are always willing to work with you ,but a lot of things are out of their control. Due to covid 19 there are a lot rules that were put in place so you dont have that much freedom to go off center ,but chances are you would not have the time anyway. So you are stuck on center with everyone ,so you got to figure out stand  each other. The worse is when they did not let anyone off center for 2 months (lock down) unless it was for a work assignment .Dont expect any privacy . Everyone will spill the tea ,so if some drama happens you might as well spill it ,as atleast your side of the story is out there . The CCC is a place where if you want to learn some specific job skill you have to keep bugging your crew boss. Often times your job for the day will be literally to pull invasive plants for like 10 hours ,so it will be boring  ,so you better have some good riddles to tell . Or only for the Ukaih/ Fotruna centers one of the jobs you could be given is to stand in some cold creek for serval hours to restore it . 
You will come out of this job with way too many biology facts and a greater appreciation for natural world and a hatred for the outdoors. If you live on center they take out $400 from your paycheck each month for room and board . If you get sick /injured they will be really rude  about dealing with it .First they will grill you if it was work related to figure out if CCC insurance will cover it /they get held responsible. You will have to fight them on it ,as chances are they may not take it serious. You they never get around to giving you an appointment or take forever . Second they will make you fill out a ton of paper work and chances are you dont even understand half of it . So always fight to get it checked out or you may end up with a lifetime injury. And finally , to take a sick day they still make show up to morning clean up and roll call in full uniform . This is done to discourage you from taking any sick days and  to force you to come to work . Your crew boss can still deny your request . If you are so sick you cant get out of bed they ask you to call the office ,but chances are they will still get you in trouble for not showing up to roll call and blame it on you . PS the work  schedules change on a whim and nobody truly knows whats going on ,as you will run around center trying to figure your work schedule only to be told nobody has a clue. Then you will get in trouble for not knowing where you were suppose to go .

"Hard work, Low pay, Miserable conditions and More!" is their motto and there are many Many times i think they take this overboard.

Honestly...i would say that the program is ok if you want to pursue a career in Caltrans, Cal fire and USFS...it prepares you for what you might be doing in that field. however it depends on the person's behavior, ambition and outlook on the program. Its YOUR job to make sure you leave here with a steady high paying job. Its really Your Choice. 

I personally don't mind the work and certifications...the best part is the scholarships you receive in the end. Residential centers are not the best choice if you have a place of our own already.
If you decide to be a residential Corpsmember..i suggest you stay on your toes and follow the rules, and stay out of trouble. Its very easy to make enemies as well as getting on admin bad side if your name is brought up a lot in rumors, incidents and write ups. 

Be an Adult at all times when you are there..the majority of the time here you have to figure things out on your own so support of Admin is very poor unless they like you. Do not date they will get rid of couples, Be aware of General Inspections (easy write up if your not clean) and Purges. Purges just means for what ever reason..your Center Director or Con Sup is out to FIRE as many as they can. this usually happens after the first, second or third group of COMET's are coming in.

Get use to things always changing cause it happens a lot but the main thing is do your job, keep your head up, learn what you can from the C's cause its really not a job..its a program. 
Use what you learn here to get a better job..it all depends on your performance and relationship with the program period here.

Like i said "Hard work, Low pay, Miserable conditions and More!" is the motto here but that's work. there's nothing in the manual that says we have to "be miserable" as well. so seriously..do ALL your homework on this program before you decide to attend.

Working at the California Conservation Corps (CCC) has been a challenging yet profoundly rewarding experience. The demanding nature of the work is immediately apparent, as the Corps engages in diverse conservation projects across the state. From trail maintenance in rugged terrains to wildfire response efforts, each task demands physical endurance and a strong work ethic.

The backbone of the CCC experience lies in the dedicated crew leaders who guide and motivate the teams. These leaders play a pivotal role in transforming seemingly arduous tasks into opportunities for personal and professional growth. Their ability to instill a sense of purpose and camaraderie among the crew members is truly commendable. The work might be physically taxing, but the encouragement and support from crew leaders create an environment that fosters resilience and teamwork.

The crew leaders not only provide guidance in technical aspects of the projects but also serve as mentors, offering valuable life skills and career advice. Their passion for conservation and commitment to instilling a strong work ethic are contagious, making it easier for the crew members to push through challenges.

Despite the hardships, the rewards of the CCC experience are abundant. Completing a demanding project, whether it be restoring a habitat or responding to a natural disaster, brings an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Witnessing tangible improvements in the environment serves as a constant reminder of the impact that collective effort can have on our surroundings.

In conclusion, the California Conservation Corps offers an intense but fulfilling journey. The difficulty of the work is surpassed by the unwavering support and motivation provided by the exceptional crew leaders. This unique combination makes the CCC not just a job but a transformative experience that leaves participants with lasting memories and a profound appreciation for the importance of conservation efforts.

The California Conservation Corps. is a physically demanding job in which you help build trails, reduce fire fuels, reshape the land where necessary and provide easier access to public parks for the community with minimal harm to the natural setting of the environment.

Typical Day:
-Morning Cook
--Wake up at 4 am (or earlier).
--Wash hands and start the fire to heat the water for cleaning dishes.
--Bring out all required food and seasonings.
--Cook breakfast.
--Serve breakfast around 5:30 am.
--Clean up the kitchen tent during chores once breakfast has been served and eaten.

-Everyone else
--Wake up at 5am (or earlier).
--Wash hands and make sack lunch before 5:15 or breakfast at 5:30 am.
--Eat breakfast and do chores (All of which should around thirty minutes to complete.)

-Free time from 6 am to 7 am.
-Physical training/workout from 6:40 to 7 am, depending on the crew supervisor.
-"Tailgate Safety Meeting" after working out. This meeting is where we go over the safety that is required for the job and what to look out for. This is done every morning.

Work time:
-Fuel up power equipment and heavy equipment (if not done the night before).
-Load any required material for transporting up the trail to the work site.
-Gathering tools from the stored location.
-Hiking into the work area from camp.
-Break at or around 10 am.
-Work resumes until lunch at 12 pm.
-Work resumes again until the next break.
-Work ends at 5:30 pm.
-Hike back to camp.
-Wash hands and eat dinner.
-Chores: Clean up camp, dishes and the kitchen tent.
-Class for an hour or so.
-Free time for the rest of the day.
-------------------------

What You Learn:
-Proper ways to use hand tools, power tools and heavy equipment.
-Techniques for creating, reinforcing and converting a trail.
-and much more. (If possible, I'll continue this later.)

Joining the California Conservation Corps was probably the best thing I could have done with my life. This program not only teaches you and guides you through various job training, skills, and knowledge, but it also helps you find your inner person. Before you know it, you begin to plan a future for yourself and you have this overwhelming sense of confidence that you might not have had when  one steps foot into to a program like this. A typical day at work consists of very hard and physical labor, whether you are cutting down trees, pulling brush either up or down a hill, to chipping. Some jobs are easy if you are planting and or watering trees, restoring wetlands or pulling weeds. There are variety of centers located throughout California and depending upon where you are stationed, determines the type of work you will be doing. When you are in a program like this, one of the hardest things to cope with and understand is that all these hundreds of people that you meet, work with, and live with, all come from a different background and often times don't share some of the same qualities you either have or like. So, learning to communicate and interact with these people can be a challenge to some. On top of learning new trades and skills, you also learn a great deal of self control, patience, leadership, and integrity. The most enjoyable part is completing a very hard task with your crew, especially if the project is one that lasts between one to three months. Another thing is the opportunity to receive multiple Scholarships through the CCC as well as Americorps. One could exit the program with up to $15,000 worth of scholarships if they applied themselves and take full advantage of all this program had to offer, like I did. This Program is not for everyone, but it is for someone. Apply now at your local CCC Recruiting office, closest to you.

I loved my entire experience at the Corps, from the management, order, learning and making great friends, all of it was absolutely tremendous. I had no prior work experience, no high school diploma, I was closed off and not very orientated in general life. However after working at the C's I really broke out and found a true passion for conservation and doing general labor as well as other life goals. Having connections to the state has paid off and having the knowledge you leave with gives way for future jobs, a lot of people gripped and complained how the work was "too hard" but I found it to be too easy at times due to having great leadership, co-workers and fun, working together in a crew and meeting goals at work and in personal life was fantastic. Anyone looking for a job and you don't know what to do for an occupation apply here. There are times where you will have a fire emergency, you have to go on them or you will be let go unless you have a good reason (family/school/health), the fire emergencies are not bad or scary, its like camping but you get paid, there's a fire not so far and a bunch of fire fighters coming in and out of the camp. If you end up not liking the job please tell the director, they will understand, its also more polite since there are others who could use the position. There is also volunteer work that is given, you must complete 40 hours of volunteer work then you don't have to do it unless you want to or they need people. Last perk and the least fun thing was getting my high school diploma, if you have one you are good, if not, you will have to stay two hours after work to go into a classroom that is on site and work towards getting your diploma, this was the worst but also the best for me, worst cause I have to stay after work for school, best because now that I have it high school is officially over for me and again looks good on resumes.

It is a fast paced, hard working, collaborative type of enviornment. Each day is different and you could be working on a different type of project each day. You could be performing trail work for state parks or the forestry service, fuel reduction projects for the fire departments and state, freeway maintenance jobs with Caltrans, and much more. You also act as an emergency first responder. You could be deployed to fires, oil spills, floods, earthquakes, perform disaster relief and much more. Each day you must show up to work in your proper work uniform, and also be prepared to be deployed to an emergency at a moments notice. Along with many of the jobs within the California Conservation Corps, there are also many programs within the CCC. For example there are internships with Caltrans such as their landscaping, tree, and electrical crews, and there is also a back country program for people who are interested in camping on the job sight and completing projects over a certain amount of time. You will also be provided with many different types of training at the CCC. Such as basic hand tool training, flood training, CPR and first aid training, and much more. You will also gain much experience using power tools, hand tools, and performing many different types of projects with many different companies and state agencies. This is a great place to develop your work skills and gain experience to get you into the career of your choice, or to stay in the California Conservation Cops and promote up. I would highly recomend the CCC to anyone under the age of 26 who is unsure about what they want to do with their lives, or who need/want to gain work experience and skills performing jobs and duties which without a degree would not be possible to obtain.

You work Monday-Thursday, starting at 6:00 am and ending at 4:30 pm. You do trail work, fuel reduction, tree planting, cleaning roads, removing invasive species, etc. You are on a crew with 10-15 people and one supervisor- C1. 

You can be sent to emergency responses (typically working at base camps near fires) at any time. For these emergency responses you can be sent out for 1-3 weeks, get home, and then be sent out again. During fire season, your crew is usually sent out quite often. If you have obligations that would keep you from being sent out, this is not the job for you, because they are mandatory, and you will basically be fired if you can't go. 

As far as the people working there, it really depends on your crew. There is a lot of turnover with people coming and going. Most of the  corpsmembers were pretty cool, and you get to bond with your crew by spending so much time together. There were some immature people/people who didn't want to work, which means other crew members have to work harder to make up for it. Most C1's were about the same age as corpsmembers, and some were also immature. Some C1's also act very unprofessionally and go against EEO policies. Complaints about C1's behavior are usually brushed off by the upper management. There is also favoritism within the crews. One person was going to be promoted despite barely showing up to work. 

Pros: Meet great people, work outdoors, have variety in projects, and get to travel all over California during fire season. 
Cons: Low pay (as the motto suggests) for the amount of work you do. During fire season, the work schedule is unpredictable and you will be away from home a lot. Some people are hard to deal with, and you are around them all the time.  

It was definitely a mixed experience, but if you want to get into conservation work, I would suggest trying it out. 

A typical day at work at the California Conservation Corps was indeed fast paced, but a very good skill Builder if you are lacking in certain skills or you are lacking in certain things the California Conservation Corps took care of it and you could leave knowing that you got those skills and the know-how. 

I learned a lot when I was at the California Conservation Corps. I learned to push myself past my limits. I learned a lot about Wildlife I learned a lot about forests and trees and certain plants. All in all I'd say my knowledge of things skyrocketed there was a lot of things I didn't know before I joined.

For me the most enjoyable thing about the the experience I had at California Conservation Corps was how I felt about myself after I got everything done, it is a great feeling when you come off of work knowing that you pulled plants that were taking over certain parts of the land or removed trees from Creeks so that salmon can run through or you are rebuilding trails at National Parks or you were at fire camps helping firefighters, and it just really is a good feeling and all around A great experience.

The hardest part for me about the California Conservation Corps is how demanding it can be on one's body physically like hiking long distances or carrying heavy equipment or something of that nature it can require a lot of Demand on your body and yourself. That for me was the hardest because being someone who didn't have that experience I felt myself wanting to give up, but that's the point of the program is to help you push past your limits cuz if you can push past your limits than anything in life will be easier.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Corps member 15 salaries reported	$2,558 per month
Natural resource technician 2 salaries reported	$2,317 per month
Electrician 1 salary reported	$2,814 per month
Country manager 1 salary reported	$6,649 per month
Residential staff 9 salaries reported	$18.83 per hour

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