New NYS Youth Conservation Corps

New York State announced the creation of the brand new Excelsior Conservation Corps (ECC) last week during a ceremony at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced the new AmeriCorps program, claiming that, ““The Excelsior Conservation Corps will build upon New York’s environmental legacy, protecting and enhancing the state’s natural resources while ensuring its continued stewardship by empowering the next generation of conservation leaders.” Governor Andrew Cuomo is modeling the program after the Civilian Conservation Corps, who had a camp 80 years ago at the same site where Tuesday’s announcement was made. PTNY’s Laura DiBetta was among the environmental leaders at the kick-off event.

The ECC will be an AmeriCorps program run in partnership with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYS Office of State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the NYS Commission for National and Community Service, and the Student Conservation Association.

There will be 50 ECC members in New York, all between ages 18 and 25. ECC members will be based at Morrisville State College and will all receive training and certifications in wilderness first aid, trail construction, stone and timber construction, carpentry, risk management and emergency response, outreach, and backcountry living. Over their 10 month commitment, members will sometimes stay at backcountry and satellite locations, where they will camp or stay in DEC or OPRHP cabins.

Those interested in applying for the first ECC cohort should visit www.ny.gov/ECC.