NPS PHOTO

Members of the Youth Conservation Corp work together on projects, acquiring important team-building skills.

The National Park Service works to ensure that young Americans age 5 to 24 from different economic, ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds gain access to the national parks. Through programs such as the Student Conservation Association (SCA), Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), Job Corps, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Corps Network, and Public Land Corps (PLC), young people are provided with the opportunity to develop a life-long commitment to support our national parks and protect our natural environment and cultural heritage.

In addition, our partnerships, active for many decades, are becoming increasingly important. Through partnerships with other Federal, State, and local agencies and nonprofit organizations, a nationwide system of parks provides educational, recreational, and conservation benefits. Partnerships can also provide technical assistance at the initial stages of project conceptualization and planning. Participating youth learn valuable natural and cultural resource management skills and develop a greater appreciation of American history and our nation’s most renowned ecosystems.

These partnerships are key to producing high quality youth programs. Parks frequently develop partnerships locally with schools, social service agencies, scout groups, or other youth-focused organizations based on informal, volunteer, or cooperative agreements. With longstanding traditions of preserving and protecting national treasures, the Service has superbly served wide ranges of visitors who represent all segments of the American society. Through efforts of non-profit partners, SCA and the Corps Network, diversity is maintained by reaching underrepresented populations and preparing them for possible jobs and careers in the NPS. In addition, this promotes a greater diversity of park visitors, in terms of social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.