YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Looking for a sweet summer vacation gig that will look awesome on a resume?
For the 38th consecutive summer, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is inviting high-school age teens to apply for its Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) before the March 1 deadline. YCC is a monthlong summer program for youth between the ages of 15 and 18. Two sessions will be offered this summer, one from June 14 to July 15 and another from July 19 to Aug. 18. In 2025, YCC hosted 39 teens from across the country.
“The YCC experience allows teen enrollees and staff the opportunity to learn, work, and recreate in Yellowstone National Park,” reads the announcement. “The program is challenging, educational, fun, and offers participants opportunities to expand their horizons while building skills that will benefit them for a lifetime.”
While no wilderness experience is necessary, it is a physically active outdoor program and participants should plan to camp four nights a week while working on projects, according to YNP. A willingness and ability to get along well with others and maintain a positive attitude are essential.
On weekends, participants will return to the YCC facility to partake in recreational activities like rafting, fishing, hiking and taking trips throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. YNP notes that teens are chosen for the program at random and will be paid $10.50 per work hour minus a small room and board fee per day.
YCC members can expect to work on a variety of projects, such as fence building, trail maintenance, installing bear boxes and trailhead signs, non-native plant control and collecting data for community science projects. That work can take place in all kinds of weather conditions and terrain.
To learn more and to download the application, visit the YNP website.
