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Los Padres Center

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Corpsmembers at the Los Padres Center complete projects across the Central Coast and California.

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Corpsmembers
Maximum of 80

Phone
805-549-3561

Address
1530 Madera Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

The CCC Los Padres Center is a residential facility where Corpsmembers live and work. Corpsmembers reside in as many as six dormitory buildings. Schedules vary but crews typically work four 10-hour days Monday through Thursday. Fire crew shifts may vary based on needs for coverage.

The center is located on the grounds of Camp San Luis Obispo, just off U.S. 101 between downtown San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. Corpsmembers complete projects across the Central Coast, throughout San Luis Obispo County, and even in the Sierra Nevada. Crews may also be dispatched across California, or out-of-state, on emergency assignments.

The Los Padres Center offers many training opportunities including culinary, forestry, veterans fisheries, wildland firefighting, and other natural resources work. The center regularly partners with State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, Caltrans, and CAL FIRE on projects.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement

The Los Padres Center is located on the Chumash, Obispeño, and Salinan territories. We encourage you to learn more about the original stewards of these lands. With respect, we acknowledge their lasting impact and ongoing connection to this area.

Los Padres Corpsmember prepares to swing a “double jack”.

A Los Padres Corpsmember prepares to swing a “double jack” to create rock crush as part of a trail rebuild project in Big Sur.

Los Padres Center

1530 Madera Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Get Directions

Train With Us

Get paid to train! The skills and lessons you learn at the Los Padres Center will create a strong foundation for you to launch a meaningful career and transform your life.

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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.

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Built Environment

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Culinary

Los Padres Center Corpsmembers train for careers in commercial kitchens, resorts, and restaurants. The culinary crew prepares and provides meals to residents at the center. Corpsmembers can earn their ServSafe Food Handler, Manager, Allergens, and Instructor/Proctor certifications while enrolled at the center. Additionally, Cuesta College culinary courses are available for Culinary Corpsmembers.

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Culinary

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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.

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Emergency Response

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Forestry

Corpsmembers at the Los Padres Center improve the health of California’s forests by planting seedlings, collecting cones and seeds, and removing invasive and/or fire-prone vegetation.

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Forestry

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Habitat Restoration

Los Padres Corpsmembers assess habitats, remove invasive vegetation, plant native species, stabilize slopes, or implement additional modifications to enhance natural environments. Corpsmembers may complete this work in forests, rivers, streams, or other sensitive habitats.

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Habitat Restoration

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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.

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Trails

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Veterans Fisheries

In partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Los Padres 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.

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Veterans Fisheries

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Wildland Firefighting

The CCC Los Padres Center operates two wildland firefighting hand crews in collaboration with the CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo 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.

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Wildland Firefighting

Picture Yourself Here

Place yourself in these Corpsmember’s boots and envision life at the Los Padres Center.

Know Before You Go

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Weather

Temperatures at the Los Padres Center average highs of 71 °F in the summer and lows of 44 °F in the winter.

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Lodging

Food & housing costs $500 per month. Corpsmembers live in shared dorm rooms, with two to three people per room.

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Activities

Join the center’s Corpsmember Advisory Board to organize volunteer events, plan recreation trips, and more!

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. Don’t believe us?! Just listen to Los Padres alumni.

“The CCC prepared me for this job by preparing me for working outdoors. It built my foundation for working in State Parks and gave me knowledge, working with certain tools that I had never used before.”

Ginger Gonzalez

Los Padres Alum | Utility Forester Consultant, Davey Resource Group

Education Program

At the Los Padres Center, Corpsmembers can finish their high school diploma, explore community college opportunities, and develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the CCC and beyond.

learn more about the program

Scholarships

Corpsmembers can earn between $2,000 and $4,000 in scholarships during their first year of service with the Brad Duncan Scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Ask Us Anything

We know you have questions about center life. Here are some of the common one’s we get. Have more questions? Give us a call!  

Talk to A Recruiter

Facility Questions

Does the center have computers I can use?

Yes, the center has 12 desktop and eight laptop computers available for Corpsmember use. Corpsmembers can use the computers for resume building, job searching, and online courses. Corpsmembers need to notify residential support staff and the lab can be opened for them. The lab is opening each evening, but closes during quiet hours.

Does the center have good phone reception?

Yes, most providers have good service at the facility. Most notably, AT&T, Verizon and Boost Mobile have excellent service. T-Mobile and Mint Mobile have poor reception, but do work.

Does the center have a gym I can use?

Yes, the Los Padres does offer a gym on campus. During initial training Corpsmembers sign an acknowledgement form that they have been taught to care and maintain equipment with proper use.

Does the center have parking for my car?

Yes. Corpsmembers are assigned parking spaces, with an overflow area. Valid Registration, insurance, and driver license is required to park a vehicle on CCC property and must be provided immediately upon arrival to campus.

Vehicles without this documentation cannot be parked on the center’s property or the adjacent National Guard property.

Corpsmembers must also complete Defensive Driving as part of the requirements to park on campus.

Does the center have all-gender dorms or rooms?

Yes, the Los Padres does offer an all gender dormitory. Requests for such housing can be made through your Recruiter or on the first day of initial training at center.

Community Living Questions

Do Corpsmembers need to sign out when they leave the center?

Yes. Corpsmembers who leave the center grounds must sign in and out. This could be for going into town for just a few hours or for a weekend away.

This is required so staff maintains an active headcount of Corpsmembers on campus at all times. It also allows staff to know how to contact Corpsmembers when there is an emergency assignment and Corpsmembers need to leave for a mission.

Can friends and family visit me at the center?

Yes, but only during off-hours and in public spaces of the center. Corpsmembers must receive prior approval to have visitors on center grounds. No visitors may visit off limits areas, such as the dormitories.

Is counseling available at the center?

Yes, the center does provide a counselor on-site. The counselor sees Corpsmembers on an appointment basis but can handle emergency walk-ins as needed.

Can the center help me get my driver's license?

Yes, the center will assist you with your drive license. There is a semi-formal class C class where Corpsmembers mentor each other. Corpsmembers are able to research driving companies and determine the best fit for them. Corpsmembers may be able to request reimbursement of the costs by writing the District Director with proof of license.

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?

Possibly. The Forestry Corps crew is tied in with nearby Cuesta College. Corpsmember must meet educational requirements for the community college courses and there must be openings.

If I join the Forestry Corps crew, do I have to stay on that crew?

The center asks that Corpsmembers joining the Forestry Corps crew will stay for one full year to complete all of the courses available to the crew.

Am I able to join a fire crew immediately?

Possibly. Fire ready and interested Corpsmembers must wait for training before crew assignment.

Fire ready Corpsmembers are those who can demonstrate the physical fitness level needed to serve on a wildland firefighting hand crew. For new Corpsmembers, the fire fitness tracker you complete with your recruiter is an indicator if you are ready. Corpsmembers must be able to complete the arduous pack test to take part in fire training.

There must also be openings available to join the crew. Fire trainings happen approximately four times per year.

Read Center News

U.S. Military Veterans are finding new career pathways with the CCC-NOAA Veterans Corps Fisheries Program.