About Us
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The California Conservation Corps is a department within the California Natural Resources Agency. We are the largest and longest running conservation corps in the nation.
Our Mission
To protect and enhance California’s natural resources and communities while empowering and developing young adults through hard work and education.
Our History
The CCC provides young adults, ages 18 to 25, a year of paid service to the State of California. During their year of service, Corpsmembers work on environmental projects and respond to natural and man-made disasters. Through this work, they gain skills and experience that lead to meaningful careers.
Founded in 1976, the CCC was modeled after the original Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s. More than 120,000 young adults have served in the Corps over its nearly 50 year history.
Our Corpsmembers
- 1,587 Corpsmember positions are available
- Approximately 3,000 Corpsmembers enroll each year
- Corpsmembers must be between the ages of 18 and 25 and California residents
- Military veterans up to age 29 may also enroll
- Corpsmembers come from all over the state and reflect the diversity of California. The top three counties where Corpsmembers come from: San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino
- The average length of stay is about nine months
What is the CCC?
The California Conservation Corps is a state agency enrolling young adults, 18 to 25, for a year of paid natural resource work and emergency response. The CCC is a youth workforce development program committed to putting young Californians on a path to stable, purpose-driven careers and higher education.
The young adults of the CCC work hard protecting and restoring California’s environment, responding to disasters, becoming stronger workers, citizens and individuals through their service.
What's the connection to the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s?
Governor Edmund “Jerry” Brown modeled the program in part after the federal Civilian Conservation Corps established by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. The original CCC, in operation from 1933 to 1942, put men to work during the Depression. Here in California, the “CCC boys” built most of California’s national parks.
Was B.T. Collins the first director?
The late B.T. Collins served as CCC director from 1979-1981, following Boyd Hornor and LeRoy Chatfield. The irrepressible Collins helped put the CCC on the map.