Make a positive impact on the environment and food access, gain valuable leadership skills, and explore the Green Mountains while serving with Vermont Youth Conservation Corps!

At VYCC, crews of young people work and learn together with the land. VYCC hosts two programs: the Conservation Program and the Food & Farm Program. Conservation crews complete land stewardship projects across the state. They build hiking trails, remove invasive plants, repair State Park infrastructure, and more. Farm crews grow and harvest organic vegetables on VYCC's Farm in Richmond, VT. Crews distribute this produce through the Health Care Share (HCS), a public health initiative to reduce to food insecurity across Vermont.

All Corps Member earn while they learn and complete impactful service projects.

Video: The VYCC Experience 

Video: Why I Chose the Food & Farm Program

Video: Why I Chose the Conservation Program

People come to VYCC to make a difference.

Joining VYCC as a Crew Leader or Crew Member is a paid service experience full of connection, hard work, and skill building. Conservation crews work, live, and learn together all while completing impactful stewardship projects such as trail maintenance, carpentry, forestry, and watershed restoration. Farm crews work on the farm at VYCC growing produce that goes to the Health Care Share. These experiences connect crews to the land, community, and one another.

On their first day, Members and Leaders arrive on VYCC’s 400-acre campus to get familiar with staff and meet crew mates.  

After orientation and training on campus, crews get to work on projects. For Conservation crews, this could be anywhere in Vermont! The crew’s trailer and van will have all the tools and gear you need. 

Farm crews get their hands in the soil on VYCC’s campus. 

Take skills & credentials with you

VYCC offers entry-level Crew Member positions, Advanced/Production positions, and Crew Leader positions. A common thread between them all is the opportunity to learn new skills while also earning a stipend.

VYCC programs are designed for Members to come back for multiple seasons. People can build skills toward careers, accumulate AmeriCorps Education Awards and college credits, and earn industry-recognized credentials.

See what skills you can gain!

Read about how VYCC supports alumni after their VYCC experience.

Video: Returning to VYCC

At the end of the season there will be lots to be proud of: the bridge you built, the skills you gained, the crops you harvested, and the community you’ve been a part of. Join us if this sounds like the right adventure for you!

As I anticipated, the work was hard. We carried wet lumber up a mountain. We crushed and moved so many heavy rocks. However, I got stronger and stronger, and I was so proud to see what my body was capable of. With the help of my community around me, I had begun to thrive in an environment that was once scary and intimidating. The Corps experience had pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I was able to expand into a stronger version of myself. – Bex, Conservation Member and Food & Farm Leader

If you are inspired to help others and the environment, then VYCC is the place for you.

All Camping crews receive room and board while on crew. That includes a food budget, fresh produce from the farm, and all the necessary camping gear. 

The Food & Farm Program is known for its farm-fresh lunches. Each day, Farm crews prepare lunch from produce grown right here on campus.

Check out Campus & Camping Life to learn more!

Video: VYCC Campus Tour

VYCC offers paid positions that come with other benefits. All Crew Leaders and Members receive a weekly stipend. Some of the positions are also enrolled in AmeriCorps, meaning they are eligible for a Segal Education Award. Depending on the position, other benefits include:

• CPR Certification, Wilderness First Aid Training, Game of Logging

• On the job learning opportunities to expand technical skill knowledge through the season

• Career pathways support provided by VYCC's Community Engagement Senior Manager 

• Access to our robust Alumni network for future adventures and career assistance

• Eligible for student loan forbearance

• Potential to earn up to 12 credits from the Community College of VT (CCV)

For more specifics about compensation and benefits refer to our available positions.

I did VYCC because I knew it would open up opportunities in the future. I got to work outside and work with an organization trying to make a difference. —Jack, Crew Member & Leader

Getting Here

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps operates on a 400-acre campus in Richmond Vermont. Campus offers conserved forestland, a certified organic farm, and two historic barns. 

VYCC is 20 minutes from Burlington (airport, train station, and bus service)

Address: 1949 East Main Street, Richmond, VT 05477

Getting Around
VYCC provides 10-passenger vans that crews use to drive and from their project sites. 

During downtime from fieldwork, VYCC Members can embark on adventures across Vermont’s inspiring landscape. Hikers can explore lush trails right in our backyard---our 400-acre campus has its own trail system! VYCC is only a short drive away from the Camel’s Hump Trail, a challenging yet rewarding hike leading to a summit with panoramic views of the Lake Champlain Valley. For a refreshing break, Richmond (and surrounding towns) offer many swimming holes, providing a refuge to cool off and unwind. Additionally, VYCC Members can experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Burlington Waterfront, enjoying local eateries, live music, and beautiful sunsets over Lake Champlain.