Youth Conservation Corps

Program information

Program dates for summer 2026 are Tuesday, July 7th to Thursday, August 13th. Interns work every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Thursdays are virtual.

We offer two summer cohort locations for the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). One is located at the TAF Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center and one at the Westhill Community Center in Skyway. You can specify your preferred location on the application. This program is designed to support teens in learning about their local environment, build community, and explore career pathways. We hope interns leave the program feeling more connected to land and the environment. Throughout the program, YCC interns:

• Learn about ecological restoration and participate in hands-on projects in a King County Park
• Network with Parks staff, community leaders, and environmental professionals
• Explore solutions to problems impacting human and environmental health through field trips and workshops
• Engage in discussions about the intersections of race and the environment
• Visit with individuals and organizations doing important work to better our environment, build community, and connect with the outdoors.
• Work on a creative independent project that supports your summer learning
• Build community with your cohort and partners to our program
• Work with, become familiar with, and connect to land

Who should apply?

King County high school students entering Grades 10-12 who can commit to attending the entire 6-week summer program at TAF Bethaday Community Learning Space in White Center or Westhill Community Center in Skyway. Program participants must be at least 15 years old by the start of the program.

We seek individuals interested in learning about parks and the environment. Prior experience or previous involvement with parks, environmental activities, or similar programs is not required. Populations who are historically underrepresented in environmental leadership and land management roles are encouraged to apply.

King County Parks and Recreation values diverse perspectives and life experience and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply.

Application tips

• You DO NOT need a cover letter or resume. We will be looking closely at your answers to the supplemental questions.
• For open-ended, please provide detailed responses. Your answer should be more than one sentence so that we can get a good sense of your interest and reason for applying.
• Make it clear in your responses that you read the job description and understand the goals of the program.
• Please make sure answers are in your own words. We can identify when answers have been written by ChatGPT or other AI tools. We do not evaluate applications based on grammar or writing. Rather, we look at your stated interest and enthusiasm.
• If you have questions, reach out to ycc@kingcounty.gov. We are here to help you with the application process.