Fortuna Center
Watch the Fortuna Center Tour Video!
Corpsmembers complete natural resource projects across the North Coast in Humboldt County.
Fortuna Corpsmember Saia Ahloe works to remove invasive English Ivy from the Ma-l’el Dunes in Humboldt County.
Fortuna Center
1500 Alamar Way
Fortuna, CA 95540
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Train With Us
Get paid to train! The skills and lessons you learn at the Fortuna Center will create a strong foundation for you to launch a meaningful career and transform your life.
Built Environment
The California Conservation Corps partners with California State Parks, Caltrans, county and city departments, and area non-profits to enhance the built environment. CCC Corpsmembers may complete a variety of projects such as building or maintaining park facilities, installing signage, retrofitting energy systems, creating defensible space, and reducing flood risk in communities.
Built Environment
Culinary
Fortuna Center Corpsmembers train for careers in commercial kitchens, resorts, and restaurants. The culinary crew prepares and provides meals to residents at the center.
Corpsmembers in the Culinary Program can earn the following ServSafe certificates:
- Food Handler
- Manager
- Allergens
- Instructor/Proctor
- Workplace
Culinary
Emergency Response
All Corpsmembers respond to emergencies across California and beyond. Assignments can last up to 21 days in a row and Corpsmembers may work up to 16 hours in a day, earning excess pay. Crews support wildfire base camps, protect homes from flooding, remove debris, and more.
Emergency Response
Forestry
Corpsmembers at the Fortuna Center improve the health of California’s forests by planting seedlings, collecting cones and seeds, and removing invasive and/or fire-prone vegetation. Corpsmembers enrolled in the CCC complete an array of projects such as planting young trees, collecting cones and seeds, and removing invasive and/or fire-prone vegetation.
Forestry
Habitat Restoration
The CCC Fortuna Center operates a wildland firefighting hand crew in collaboration with the CAL FIRE Del Norte-Humboldt unit. Corpsmembers cut fire line, lay hose, and mop up wildland fires. They also reduce wildfire risk by removing vegetation, creating fuel breaks, and participating in prescribed burns. Crews respond to local calls and can be dispatched statewide.
Habitat Restoration
Trails
Serving on natural resource crews, Corpsmembers construct and maintain trails for public recreation. Project work varies but may involve clearing brush, rebuilding trail tread, installing rip rap erosion control, constructing bridges or boardwalks, and more.
Trails
Veterans Fisheries
In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Fortuna Center enables U.S. Military Veterans to monitor species of concern and restore habitat for endangered fish, such as salmon and steelhead. The center can host up to two Veterans Fisheries Corpsmembers at once.
Veterans Fisheries
Wildland Firefighting
o The CCC Fortuna Center operates a wildland firefighting hand crew in collaboration with the CAL FIRE Humboldt-Del Norte unit. Corpsmembers cut fire line, lay hose, and mop up wildland fires. They also reduce wildfire risk by removing vegetation, creating fuel breaks, and participating in prescribed burns. Crews respond to local calls and can be dispatched statewide.
Wildland Firefighting
Picture Yourself Here
Place yourself in these Corpsmember’s boots and envision life at the Fortuna Center.
Know Before You Go
Weather
Temperatures at the Fortuna Center average highs of 63 °F in the summer and overnight lows of 41 °F in the winter.
Lodging
Food & housing costs $500 per month. Corpsmembers live in one of three dormitory wings with two or four people per room.
Activities
Join Fortuna’s Corpsmember Advisory Board to organize volunteer events, plan recreation trips, and build community.
Find Your Path
Work with CCC career navigators to chart out your path to success. We can help you leverage your training to launch meaningful careers and pursue educational opportunities. Don’t just take our word for it, check out this alum story.
“The CCC has changed me by showing me I am capable of a lot more than I think. Being in the CCC pushes you every day to do your best and that push has made me stronger than I have ever been mentally and physically. It prepared me by giving me hands-on experience with a variety of different conservation based work, and exposed me to the natural beauty of California. Without the the CCC I would not have developed the passion for service and hard work.”
Ask Us Anything
Talk to A Recruiter
Facility Questions
Can I park my personal vehicle on the center property?
Yes, although the center does have limited on campus parking spots. Corpsmembers may also park their vehicles on the street off property.
Corpsmembers must have a current drive license, proof of insurance, and registration to park on campus. Corpsmembers must also review and sign an expectations memo before being allowed to park on center.
Will my personal cell phone get reception at the center?
All carriers have quality signal at the center. However, project work in the redwoods does limit signal quality.
Does the center of a gym I can use?
Yes, the center does have a small gym available for Corpsmember use during off-duty hours. Staff must open the gym for Corpsmember use. Corpsmembers must complete a safety orientation, during initial training, before being able to use the gym. Corpsmembers must always use the buddy system to use the gym, no individual workouts are allowed.
Does the center offer all gender dorms or rooms?
All rooms are shared and set by gender for associated bathroom assignments to maintain appropriate health and safety ratios for access to showers and facilities. Non-binary Corpsmembers are asked to let staff know where they feel the most comfortable and will be assigned accordingly.
Community Living Questions
Does the center have quiet hours?
Yes, Corpsmembers are asked to be respectful to their neighbors and keep noise down.
Quiet hours:
- 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Weeknights
- 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Weekends
Do Corpsmembers need to sign in or out when they leave the center’s campus?
No, Corpsmembers are not required to sign out if they leave campus.
Will the Fortuna Center help me get my driver license?
Fortuna Center staff assist Corpsmembers with identifying local driving schools.
Are there computers I can use at the center?
There are eight desktop computers available for use in resume construction, job searching, and online course completion. Computers are available at all times, unless reserved for group glasses.
Can my friends and family visit me at the center?
No, the center is not able to host family or friends for visits.
What should I bring to my residential center?
Your Recruiter will give you a packing list when you are assigned to a center. Generally, dorms are equipped with lockers having minimal closet space. It’s recommended to pack light. Once Corpsmembers have been settled into the program and into regular Corpsmember rooms with larger lockers, they can bring more items.
Are special dietary needs accommodated?
Yes. Culinary staff at our residential centers prepare a variety of meals catering to the different ethnic and cultural backgrounds of our Corpsmembers. They serve traditional, vegetarian, and vegan meals which are all well-balanced, nutritious, and delicious.
Crew Questions
Am I able to join the Forestry Corps crew immediately?
If there are openings, Corpsmembers may request joining the Forestry Corps immediately after initial training or at any time during their time in the program.
Am I able to join a fire crew immediately?
Fire ready and interested Corpsmembers must wait for training opportunities before they can join the fire crew.
Fire trainings are held at least twice a year.
Read Center News
Multiple CCC fire strike teams worked in and around Topanga Canyon during the height and aftermath of the Palisades Fire.
CCC Fortuna Corpsmembers gave a coastal forest a major boost by removing invasive English ivy.
