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Salinas Center

Corpsmembers with the Placer 1 fire crew cut fire line with hand tools as flames from the Dixie Fire approach in 2021.

The Salinas Center provides Corpsmembers opportunities to complete natural resource projects across the Central Coast.

Explore the Center

Corpsmembers
Maximum of 30

Phone
831-768-0150
Monterey Bay Office

Address
710 Old Stage Road
Salinas, CA 93908

The CCC Salinas Center is a non-residential facility where Corpsmembers commute to work daily. Schedules vary but crews typically work four 10-hour days Monday through Thursday. Corpsmembers may also camp, or “spike”, near project sites for up to eight days straight.

The center is located in Salinas, on the campus of Rancho Cielo. Corpsmembers complete projects across the Central Coast, especially in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Crews may also be dispatched across California, or out-of-state, on emergency assignments.

The Salinas Center offers training opportunities in forestry and other natural resources work. The center partners with State Parks, local municipalities, and other area non-profits and government agencies on projects.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement

Salinas Center is located on the Popeloutchom (Amah Mutsun) and Ohlone 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.

Forestry Corpsmember next to a tree and axe in hand.

Salinas Corpsmember Tommy Castro sizes up a tree before beginning the process of felling the hazard tree, damaged during the CZU Lightning Complex Fire of 2020. 

Solano Center

710 Old Stage Road
Salinas, CA 93908
Get Directions

Train With Us

Get paid to train! The skills and lessons you learn at the Salinas 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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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 Salinas 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.

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Forestry

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Habitat Restoration

Salinas 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

Picture Yourself Here

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

Know Before You Go

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Spikes

Salinas Corpsmembers often camp closer to project sites, called spikes, in wilderness areas or when projects take place outside of a reasonable commute.

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Transportation

Corpsmembers must have reliable transportation to center. There is no public transit available to or near the center.

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Activities

Join Salinas’ 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.

“My biggest challenge was improving my leadership skills. Now, I’m a little more confident and I know how to approach people. … I had many restoration projects while I was in the CCC and the experience working with various tools has helped me with my new job.”

Amanda Romo

Monterey Bay Alum | Restoration Technician, Watsonville Wetlands Watch

Education Program

At the Salinas 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

When assigned to a spike or emergency, can I park my personal vehicle at the center?

Corpsmembers are highly encouraged to be dropped off or carpool to the center when scheduled for a spike or emergency. The center does have space for Corpsmember parking.

Will the Salinas Center help me get my driver license?

The center will assist with online learning and provide time to take the written and physical tests.

Are there computers I can use at the center?

The center has access to John Muir Charter School’s laptops on the Rancho Cielo campus. JMCS laptops may be checked-out through their process and requirements.

Desktops may also be available to Corpsmembers at times, but there is not a full computer lab available.

Does the center of a gym I can use?

No, the Salinas Center does not have access to a gym. However, Salinas Corpsmembers are able to utilize the Monterey Bay gym in Watsonville on Fridays.

If I want to do Forestry Corps, am I able to immediately be on the crew?

Possibly. If there are openings at the conclusion of initial training new Corpsmembers may be able to join the Forestry Corps crew. If there are not openings, Corpsmembers may be able to join the crew once there are openings.

If I enroll at the Salinas Center, would I be able to transfer to the Monterey Bay Center for the fire crew?

Yes, transfer to the Monterey Bay Center to partake in that particular program is possible. You will need to speak to your supervisor about how to apply for a transfer and other requirements. Openings may be infrequent. There are additional transfer requirements, including service times and meeting performance standards.

Read Center News

To help provide the San Lorenzo Valley Water District with a pipeline replacement project, Salinas Forestry Corps Corpsmembers have been helping to remove nearby hazard trees.