Summer Youth Corps (SYC) is a residential summer work program for youth, ages 15-18, led by AmeriCorps members, ages 18-25. Crew members receive environmental and job-skills training while working with other high school youth and two-three AmeriCorps crew leaders. Crew members live, work, and play outside together in this residential program based out of St. Croix State Park from June - mid-Aug. Crews travel to work in public parks throughout Minnesota and neighboring states on a variety of conservation projects including trail maintenance, removal of introduced species, native species planting, and basic construction projects.

Summer Youth Corps is dedicated to accessibility for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing community and runs 1-2 American Sign Language crews each year. Since the late 1970s, SYC has been inclusive for Deaf community, with ASL novice interpreters on ASL crews and NIC interpreters present for orientation, education, and recreation activities at basecamp. ASL Interpreter & Crew Leaders motivate and supervise an ASL crew and interpret youth training, project orientations, crew meetings, and education activities.

• Student Interpreters (Internship/Practicum)
• Novice Interpreters (Induction/Onboarding)

This is a summer only position, which typically opens in mid-Dec or January. Once available, the application will be posted online here: https://conservationcorps.org/join/

We have rolling admission, with a priority deadline in mid-March and final deadline in April.

The program typically runs from late May or early June - mid-Aug. Due to COVID, we're run a variety of program structures in the last three years and will continue to make decisions about program design in order to prioritize members and community safety pending the current status of the pandemic. AmeriCorps members receive three weeks of paid training and then lead crews for 5 to 8 weeks of project work.

• In person/onsite

Our program is based out of St. Croix State Park in Hinckley, MN. Crews then travel to complete projects in various public lands, primarily within Minnesota; however, we have a number of projects in neighboring states, including Wisconsin and Michigan.

The ASL Interpreter & Crew Leader position is paid, which includes a monthly living allowance and at the completion of the program, leaders receive an AmeriCorps education award.

Alum of our program also often return as NIC interpreters who are paid a daily rate when supporting our orientation, education, and recreation activities at basecamp.

We have NIC interpreters support our program during crew leader orientation, youth orientation, and for 3-4 educational/recreational events at basecamp. We provide informal mentoring opportunities for AmeriCorps novice interpreters to meet with and receive feedback from these NIC interpreters, many of who are alum of our program and know the challenges of this unique outdoor, immersive interpreting environment so are able to provide excellent coaching and support.

We also always strive to have Interpreters on our seasonal Head Staff, though this varies year to year based on who applies. When interpreters are on Head Staff, they serve as our ASL Community Coordinator and supervise AmeriCorps members on our ASL crews. They are also typically alum of our program who can provide direct coaching on how they've navigated situations with crews in the past and share about how their AmeriCorps experience has led them to new opportunities within the interpreting field.