“When I did Youth Corps, I was like ‘Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for.’ I really enjoyed the experience.” – 2022 Youth Corps intern Claire Moe
“When I did Youth Corps, I was like ‘Wow, this is exactly what I was looking for.’ I really enjoyed the experience.”
– 2022 Youth Corps intern Claire Moe
All smiles during a beautiful day of digging blackberries at Duckabush Oxbow and Wetlands Preserve.
Removing bittersweet nightshade and yellow flag iris at Donovan Creek Wetland Preserve.
Each year, our Spring Break Youth Corps Program offers one-week, paid internships for high school students aged 16 and up. Students work as a team to learn about and undertake a variety of habitat enhancement and conservation activities with Jefferson Land Trust staff members, and volunteers on permanently protected nature preserves across east Jefferson County.
This field-based internship is held entirely outdoors, sometimes visiting remote areas and hiking through difficult terrain. Corps members learn the importance of habitat, forest, and stream health through noxious weed removal, forest surveys, and other habitat restoration activities.
As part of the Youth Corps experience, students also learn about a variety of conservation and natural resources-related career paths from local natural resource professionals.
Transportation to sites is provided from Port Townsend, Chimacum, or Quilcene schools by pre-arrangement and light lunches are provided. Youth Corps is intended for all students who have an interest in learning about land management. No previous experience is required or expected.
Marking trees (with lumber crayons and flagging tape) to thin for forest health project at Duckabush Riparian Forest Preserve.
This position is open to high school students aged 16 and up. A parent/guardian signature (for those under 18) on the Release Form will be required for participation in this internship. This position is physically demanding: applicant must be able to walk over uneven terrain, across streams, through thick brush, and up and down slopes. Must be able to work outdoors in various weather conditions, including sun and rain. Must be able to work with hand tools (instruction and tools provided).
2024 Jefferson Land Trust Spring Break Youth Corps internship runs April 1 – April 5, 2024; 9:00 am – 3:30 pm from Quilcene; transportation and light lunch provided. Transportation also available from Port Townsend and from Chimacum leaving at 8:00 am and 8:30 am respectively each day, returning at 4:00 pm and 4:30 pm.
Setting up trail cameras at Duckabush Riparian Forest Preserve.
Applications will be accepted through March 24, 2024.
To apply, fill out this Google Form.
Questions? Please contact Carrie Clendaniel, Jefferson Land Trust’s Preserve Manager and Youth Corps lead, at cclendaniel[at]saveland.org or 360.379.9501 ext. 109.
Interns will be awarded $300 for participation in full week.
2019 Spring Break Youth Corps participants got to work alongside, and learn from, a Washington Conservation Corps crew (in hard hats.)
View a cool field report compiled by some of the 2022 Youth Corps Spring Break interns.
