Mendocino Center
Watch crews visit the new Mendocino Center!
Corpsmembers at the Mendocino Center complete natural resource project work across Mendocino County.
A Mendocino Corpsmembers gets an up close visit from nature during California Naturalist training in nearby Hopland, CA.
Map to Center
Mendocino Center
600 East Hill Road
Willits, CA 95490
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Train With Us
Get paid to train! The skills and lessons you learn at the Mendocino Center will create a strong foundation for you to launch a meaningful career and transform your life.
Select an icon to learn more about project and training opportunities.
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
Mendocino Center Corpsmembers train for careers in commercial kitchens, resorts, and restaurants. The culinary crew prepares and provides meals to residents at the center.
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
Habitat Restoration
Mendocino 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.
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 Mendocino 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
The CCC Mendocino Center operates two wildland firefighting hand crews in collaboration with the CAL FIRE Mendocino 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.
Picture Yourself Here
Place yourself in these Corpsmember’s boots and envision life at the Mendocino Center.
Know Before You Go
Weather
Temperatures at the Mendocino Center average highs of 81 °F in the summer and overnight lows of 36 °F in the winter.
Lodging
Food & housing costs $500 per month. Corpsmembers live in one of seven dormitories with two or four people per room.
Activities
Join Mendocino’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 gave me the experience I needed. It’s prepared me mentally and physically. If you’re thinking of joining, sacrifice a year of your life to make a positive change in it. If you really want it, you can make it happen.”
Ask Us Anything
Talk to A Recruiter
Facility Questions
Can I bring and park my personal vehicle at the center?
Yes, the center has dedicated space for Corpsmember parking. Corpsmembers must have a driver license, proof of insurance, and current registration to park on center.
Does the center have a gym I can use?
Yes, the center’s recreation building houses a gym for Corpsmember use.
Does the center offer all gender housing?
Yes, the center has gender-neutral rooms available within the seven dormitory buildings.
Community Living Questions
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.
If I'm over 21, can I drink while living at the center?
CCC facilities are drug and alcohol free facilities. Alcoholic beverage containers are not permitted on center property or in state vehicles. Corpsmembers who are 21 years of age or older and consume alcohol are expected to do so in a responsible manner. If they are under the influence of alcohol, which is defined as having a blood alcohol content of .04 or above, Corpsmembers may not be engaged in any CCC-sponsored activities or be on state property, center facilities, or on emergency response. The exception being in their CCC-assigned personal living area or going to that area in an orderly manner.
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.
Read Center News
Preparing to use 'good fire' Corpsmembers on Willits 1 fire crew help protect Mendocino County.
Corpsmembers at the CCC Ukiah Center are hoping winter rains will help their months-long work to create salmon habitat in Mendocino County creeks.
