Forest Stewards Youth Corps
Purpose
The FSYC program develops a new generation of skilled workers, educated and active citizens, and future community leaders.
The mission of the Forest Stewards Youth Corps program is to provide career training in natural resources for 16-19 year olds from forest dependent communities in New Mexico that have few employment opportunities.
Our fire and fuels crew provides similar, advanced opportunities for 18-25 year olds.
Goals
We put the forest first for the long haul, so we help build the next generation of responsible forest stewards. Its a youth - environment partnership that helps everyone win. Our goal is to provide:
- service,
- training,
- education and
- employment opportunities
for young Americans, while they preserve, protect, and promote America’s greatest gift - our public lands.
The Forest Stewards Youth Corps changes lives by providing critical opportunities and life skills to youth in rural communities who are just entering the work force. We also change lives through the program's work toward sustainable, resilient, healthy forests, and safer communities.
Benefits of participation
The Forest Stewards Guild is a member of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), a national youth and veteran service program. Alumni of the FSYC qualify for 21CSC benefits.
If you have completed 640 hours of appropriate conservation corps projects on public lands (the equivalent of at least two full FSYC work seasons) and are between the ages of 16-30, you are eligible for the Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority (PLCHA) two year non-competitive hiring status for land management positions.
For more information, please refer to the 21CSC Guidelines and PLC Hours Verification Form.
Supporters
- The New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission
- The National Forest Foundation (contribution statement)
- The Cibola and Santa Fe National Forests
- Taos Ski Valley Foundation
- Santa Fe Community Foundation
- The North Face Explore Fund
- The Anya and Henry Bagley Charitable Trust
- The Enterprise Foundation
- LANL Foundation
- La Montanita Coop
- Fire and Hops Gastropub
- REI Coop
- City of Santa Fe Fire Department
- Santa Fe Community College
- Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc.
- Usal Redwood Forest Company
- YouthWorks!
Forest Stewards Youth Corps accomplishments
Since it's inception, the FSYC program has:
- employed over 700 youth,
- achieved 300,000 hours of conservation service and education (similar to 8 full time employees per year),
- awarded over 200 hours of college credit, and
- invested over $7 million in rural New Mexico communities.
Corps members have gone on to build successful careers in natural resource management and become strong leaders in their communities.
Stay Informed
about our recent projects and upcoming events.