Rocky Mountain Youth Corps

RMYC ENGAGES THE STRENGTH AND POTENTIAL OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH MEANINGFUL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, AND GROUP RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. RMYC STRIVES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES OF NORTHWEST COLORADO BY OFFERING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH AGES 11-25 YEARS. RMYC IS AN ACCREDITED CORPS OF THE CORPS NETWORK, THE 21ST CENTURY SERVICE AND CONSERVATION CORPS, AND THE COLORADO YOUTH CORPS ASSOCIATION. RMYC PROGRAMS FOCUS ON TWO PRIMARY OUTCOMES: SUCCESSFUL YOUTH AND SUSTAINED ENVIRONMENT. RMYC PROVIDES LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES FOR OVER 500 YOUTH EACH YEAR TO DEVELOP SUCCESSFUL, SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE SKILLS THAT LEAD TO PRODUCTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. RMYC IS ONE OF A SMALL MINORITY OF CORPS ACROSS THE NATION THAT INCORPORATE AN INTENTIONAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR EACH AGE GROUP WE SERVE, FOCUSING ON JOB READINESS, RESUME BUILDING, CAREER DEVELOP

RMYC IS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD OF SERVICE AND CONSERVATION CORPS IN THAT WE ARE THE ONLY CORPS IN THE STATE OF COLORADO THAT ENGAGES CORPS MEMBERS FOR EXTENDED (10 WEEKS +) 24/7 EXPERIENTIAL WORK AND LIVING OPPORTUNITIES. YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS DEVELOP STRONG, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES BY WORKING ON MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS THAT PROTECT HABITATS WHILE MAINTAINING OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AMENITIES THAT COLORADOANS ENJOY. WE PROVIDE UNIQUE PROJECT SERVICES AND TRAINING AROUND HIGHER-LEVEL HARD SKILLS SUCH AS CHAINSAW CERTIFICATION, WILDLAND FIRE FIGHTING CERTIFICATION, HIGH ALTITUDE SITES (COLORADO FOURTEENERS), INTRICATE ROCK WORK, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND WILDERNESS SPECIALTY WORK SUCH AS CROSS CUT SAW USE. WE PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE WORK FORCE FOR PUBLIC LANDS MAINTENANCE WITH TRAILS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, FIRE FUELS REDUCTION, BEETLE KILL MITIGATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL, AND MORE. ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER OF YOUTH IN NORTHWEST COLORADO. YOUTH CORPS PROGRAMS:SERVICE LEARNING CREW (SLC) IS A YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE IN CITIZENSHIP, VOLUNTEERISM, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT TO ROUTT COUNTY YOUTH AGES 11-13. SLC SESSIONS ARE TWO WEEKS, MONDAY FRIDAY, EIGHT HOUR DAYS, WITH A CAMPING EXPERIENCE ON THE LAST DAY. SLC PROVIDES ENTRY-LEVEL JOB SKILLS WHILE ENHANCING THE RESILIENCY AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION AND MEANINGFUL SERVICE PROJECTS FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT. SLC WAS CREATED IN 2010. COMMUNITY YOUTH CREW (CYC) SERVES NORTHWEST COLORADO YOUTH AGES 14-15 ON LOCAL PROJECTS. MEMBERS ARE PAID A WAGE WHILE COMPLETING PRIORITY PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS AND ENGAGING IN THE EDUCATION CURRICULUM. CYC SESSIONS ARE TWO WEEKS, MONDAY FRIDAY, WITH TWO PROGRAM MODELS: 1) THE FIRST WEEK OPERATES FIVE 8-HOUR DAYS, AND THE SECOND WEEK OPERATES A RESIDENTIAL, 24/7 CAMPING EXPERIENCE; AND 2) BOTH WEEKS OPERATE A RESIDENTIAL, 24/7 CAMPING EXPERIENCE. DURING THE SESSION, MEMBERS LIVE IN TENTS AND LEARN BASIC INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS WHILE WORKING ON PUBLIC LANDS PROJECTS DURING THE DAY. CYC WAS CREATED IN 1994. REGIONAL YOUTH CREW (RYC) SERVES YOUTH AGES 16-18 FROM THROUGHOUT NORTHWEST COLORADO. MEMBERS LIVE AND WORK 24/7 FOR THE ENTIRE SESSION. PARTICIPANTS CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN A TWO-WEEK OR A FOUR-WEEK SESSION. THE RESIDENTIAL NATURE ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO BE FULLY IMMERSED IN THE EXPERIENTIAL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. LIKE THE SLC AND CYC PROGRAMS, MEMBERS WORK FOR PUBLIC LAND MANAGERS ON SERVICE PROJECTS THAT BENEFIT THE GENERAL PUBLIC. RYC MEMBERS ARE ALSO PAID A WAGE, AND SOME ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARDS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. RYC WAS OUR FIRST PROGRAM MODEL, CREATED IN 1993. YOUNG ADULT CORPS PROGRAMS:CONSERVATION CORPS (CC) SERVES YOUNG ADULTS AGES 18-25 THROUGH CONSERVATION WORK PROJECTS WHICH FOCUS ON: TRAIL CREW, CHAINSAW CREW, HISTORIC PRESERVATION CREW, AND FIRE CREW. CONSERVATION CORPS MEMBERS ARE PAID A WAGE AND EARN AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARDS WHILE COMPLETING PRIORITY PROJECTS ON PUBLIC LANDS AND ENGAGING IN A COMPREHENSIVE PERSONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS LIVE IN GROUPS OF 8-10 FOR 11 TO 28 WEEKS IN THE OUTDOORS, AND WORK BUILDING AND MAINTAINING TRAILS, BRIDGES AND FENCES, FIRE FUELS REDUCTION, HABITAT RESTORATION, WILDFIRE REHABILITATION, AND MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE MITIGATION. CC WAS CREATED IN 1999.NATURAL RESOURCE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (NRIP) IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AGES 16-30 YEARS IN VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCES WITHIN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND NON-PROFITS. INTERNS ARE RECRUITED AND MANAGED BY RMYC TO ADDRESS PRIORITY CONSERVATION GOALS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE COLORADO YOUTH CORPS ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION, THE COLORADO FOURTEENERS INITIATIVE AND A GROWING CIRCLE OF ADDITIONAL AGENCY AND NON-PROFIT PARTNERS. INTERNSHIPS ARE DESIGNED TO ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO ADVANCE CAREERS IN NATURAL RESOURCES. RMYC PROVIDES SUPPORT TO ALL INTERNSHIPS WHILE THE INTERN WORKS UNDER THE DAILY SUPERVISION OF THE HOSTING PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT AGENCY OR NON-PROFIT. INTERNS EARN A WAGE AND AN AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD. NRIP WAS CREATED IN 2015.OTHER YOUTH PROGRAMS:YAMPA VALLEY SCIENCE SCHOOL WAS DEVELOPED IN 2000 AND SERVES ALL ROUTT COUNTY SIXTH GRADERS AND 20-30 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. STUDENTS ARE IMMERSED IN THIS FOUR-DAY, ONE-OVERNIGHT EXPERIENTIAL, PLACE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES CO DEPT. OF EDUCATION CONTENT STANDARDS IN SCIENCE, AS WELL AS SOCIAL AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, LEADERSHIP, HEALTHY NUTRITION, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS. THE LESSON ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT OPTIMAL LOCATIONS FOR THE CURRICULUM. JUNIOR LEADERS (HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS) ENGAGE AS MENTORS AND CO-FACILITATORS OF THE CURRICULUM WHICH FOCUSES ON SCIENCE BUT INCORPORATES OTHER ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES SUCH AS MATH, WRITING, HISTORY AND ART. THE RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE PROMOTES SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. RMYC UTILIZES THE CONNECTION OF YOUTH TO THE OUTDOORS TO ATTAIN SELF-DEVELOPMENT ASSETS THEY NEED AT THIS TRANSITIONAL TIME, WHILE IGNITING AN EXCITEMENT FOR LEARNING. YVSS WAS CREATED IN 2000. 2021 PROGRAM OUTCOMES:YOUTH CORPS AND CONSERVATION CORPS PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED INCREASES IN PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS, RESILIENCE, SELF-EFFICACY, AND LEADERSHIP. YOUTH CORPS AND CONSERVATION CORPS PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN THEIR PREVIOUS 30-DAY USE OF ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA. YOUTH CORPS PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED INCREASES IN JOB-READINESS SKILLS. YOUTH CORPS AND CONSERVATION CORPS PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED SIGNIFICANT INCREASED DESIRES TO ENGAGE IN CIVIC SERVICE IN THEIR FUTURE.