 YouthWorks Program
YouthWorks Outdoor Explorations is a fun and challenging outdoor program for youth ages 11-15. Participants gain self confidence, environmental awareness, and critical social skills by participating in team based conservation and recreation enhancement projects, education, and outdoor adventures. YouthWorks teams travel throughout Lane County tackling community services projects head on; learning job skills, responsibility, and team work.
YouthWorks Outdoor Explorations is operated out of the NYC facility in Eugene Oregon, giving youth crews the opportunity to explore the outdoor beauty of their own community.
YouthWorks offers exciting non-residential summer programs for Lane County youth, ranging in ages from 11 to 15. Youth work in crews of 8-10 members to cultivate maturity, self-esteem, and job responsibility through four main focus areas: organic farming, community service, environmental education, and outdoor recreation. Youth are divided according to their age into two programs.
Ages 11-13 "The Explorers"
Experience the outdoors, enjoy every minute of every day, and learn about the importance of community service through special volunteer projects for non-profit organizations and public spaces. Throughout each session youth will explore many things and oh the places they’ll go. The Explorers will learn the importance of making friends, discovering the world around them, teamwork, and leadership. There will be various exciting field trips including whitewater rafting, a trip to the Pacific Ocean, adventurous hikes, and days spent in NYC’s, Laurel Hill Organic Farm learning about seeds and weeds, roots and shoots, tubers and tomatoes, compost and why we love ladybugs! Life lessons, community service, and adventurous outings all add to the quality and uniqueness of The Explorers program and to top it all off for each 3 week session fully completed by a Corpsmember, they will earn a stipend of $50.
Ages 14-15 "The Ventures"
The Ventures will experience a program designed specifically for their interests and age. Youth will work on high priority trail and conservation projects directed toward community contribution with a service learning component. Service learning in the YouthWorks program focuses on purposeful learning through experiential education with efforts to improve and assist the local community through service and partnerships with agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers, BLM, USFS, and local watershed councils.
It’s not all work and no play! There is the forest, the coast, whitewater rafting, camping and farming. All activities are designed to create self-confident young leaders with new friends and big adventures. For each 3 week session fully completed, The Ventures will earn a $75 Stipend.
YouthWorks Team Leaders and Garden Coordinator help plan and implement education, community service projects, conservation, and outdoor recreation activities for 5 teams of youth. Two leaders work with each team and are responsible for the development and supervision of that team. Team Leaders are motivated, responsible, and excited about youth development. The Garden Coordinator does not have a specific crew but works with the Team Leaders and their crews in the garden. Team Leader and the Garden Coordinator positions are challenging, but the rewards are great.
YouthWorks Team Leaders and the Garden Coordinator work together to bring this program to life by ensuring each crew is safe, productive, and having fun. We look for leaders who are motivated, responsible, possess initiative and zeal. Two leaders organize each team. They supervise and motivate the team during community service projects like organic gardening, trail maintenance, and invasive plant removal. Team Leaders make sure each outdoor recreation trip is safe and fun. Leaders also teach a curriculum about the environment, leadership, and personal development.
Being a leader in the YouthWorks Program is an adventure. Youth participants are eager to learn, explore, and gain new friendships. Leaders work shoulder to shoulder with youth to make this happen. Each day presents new challenges, new ideas, and new rewards. We look for Team Leaders who like the challenge of doing a hard job well, leaders who want to help youth grow, learn, and develop important responsibilities.
The program begins with a seven day training to help you become an effective mentor. Following training, Team Leaders will work 8 to 5, Monday through Friday, in addition to one or two weekend trainings and three camping trips. During a typical week, three days will be spent performing physically demanding conservation and community service work projects. Two days a week will be spent exploring Oregon's natural landscape: trips like visiting the beautiful Oregon coast, waterfalls in the High Cascades, or just hanging out, having a picnic, and playing games with some pretty amazing young people. A few hours each week are set-aside for you to lead innovative environmental and life skills education activities.
Learn more about YouthWorks Member positions.
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