• A stator in the third powerhouse at Grand Coulee.
  • The penstocks above the water at Hoover Dam
  • The top of Shasta Dam in California
  • An automated gate structure on a canal in Washington.
  • An aerial photo of the sunsetting at Ruedi Reservoir in Colorado.
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Secretary Salazar established the Office of Youth in Natural Resources June 8, 2009. Its purpose is to coordinate present and future youth initiatives, including the creation of the 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps within the bureaus at the Department. The corps will be modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps that provided three million men with jobs in the 1930s. By comparison, the 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps will include women as well as men and strive for greater diversity.

Reclamation has partnered with The Corps Network and The Student Conservation Association (SCA) to help develop a national Youth Conservation Corps at Reclamation.  Through these cooperative agreements, Reclamation educates, engages and employs youth in conservation opportunities that include both hands-on crew work, as well as internship opportunities. The Youth Conservation Program at the Bureau of Reclamation involves youth in cultural and natural resource conservation related to Reclamation projects and promotes and stimulates public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement and furthering the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources. Job opportunities through Reclamation’s Youth Conservation Corps include both hands-on, crew-type conservation work as well as educational internship options.

The employment effort complements Reclamation’s ongoing emphasis to educate and engage youth across all areas of our operations. Reclamation has a history of sharing scientific resources and current research with educators about hydropower, water conservation and water management throughout our regions in 17 Western states. Additionally, we proudly introduce the wonders of our treasured landscapes to disadvantaged and disabled youth through our long-term partnership with the Catch a Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.) for Kids Foundation.

For more information about participating in youth programs at Reclamation, please contact Becky Fulkerson at (202) 513-0638 or e-mail her at rfulkerson@usbr.gov.

Updated: July 17, 2012