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San Diego Center

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

Corpsmembers at the San Diego Center work on a variety of natural resource project work across San Diego and Imperial counties.

Explore the Center

Corpsmembers
Maximum of 95

Phone
619-409-4382

Address
401 West 35th Street, Suite A
National City, CA 91950

The CCC San Diego 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 National City, just a short drive south of downtown San Diego. Corpsmembers complete natural resource projects across San Diego and Imperial counties. Crews may also be dispatched across California, or out-of-state, on emergency assignments.

The San Diego Center offers many training opportunities including forestry, wildland firefighting, and other natural resources work. The center regularly partners with State Parks, County of San Diego, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, City of San Diego, and CAL FIRE on projects.

Tribal Land Acknowledgement

San Diego Center is located on Kumeyaay territory. 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.

San Diego Corpsmember in full PPE hammers in a stake to secure a silt sock.

A San Diego Corpsmember in full PPE hammers in a stake to secure a silt sock in Altadena after the Eaton Fire destroyed thousands of homes.

San Diego Center

401 West 35th Street, Suite A
National City, CA 91950
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Train With Us

Get paid to train! The skills and lessons you learn at the San Diego 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 San Diego 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

San Diego 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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Wildland Firefighting

The CCC San Diego Center operates one wildland firefighting hand crew in collaboration with the CAL FIRE San Diego 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 San Diego Center.

Know Before You Go

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Spikes

San Diego 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. The closest public transit stop is approximately 1,200 feet from center.

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Activities

Join San Diego’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.

“It’s a great experience. If you want to be anything you want to be, the CCC is a great option to advance your career. It made me think in new ways and helped discipline me to be more reliable and responsible.”

Angel Guttieriez

San Diego Alum | Park Attendant, San Diego County Parks

Education Program

At the San Diego 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

Will the San Diego Center help me get my driver license?

Corpsmembers who successfully obtain their Class C driver’s license may be reimbursed for the cost of their driver’s training and behind-the-wheel practice through a verified organization. Corpsmembers should speak with center staff to learn more.

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

We recommend that you are dropped off at the center when on an eight-day spike or emergency assignment. While street parking is available near the center, it is at an individual’s own risk.

Are there computers I can use at the center?

Yes, Corpsmembers can use 15 laptop computers for resume construction, job searching, online courses, and general computer use. Corpsmembers must fill out a form to check out a laptop. Laptops are available for checkout during all off-duty hours and Corpsmembers may request long-term use for a specific, permitted reason, like completing an EMT course.

Does the center of a gym I can use?

Possibly. The crew is open to new and current Corpsmembers. Any Corpsmembers may request assignment to the Forestry crew. If there are openings, requesting Corpsmembers may be placed on the crew. There are no prerequisites to join the crew or expectations for how long a Corpsmember serves on the crew.

When can I join the center’s fire crew?

In order to join the CAL FIRE-partnered wildland firefighting hand crew, Corpsmembers must submit an internal application to attend fire training. Once Corpsmembers attend fire training and complete all requirements to serve on the crew, the crew is filled based on seniority and Conservationist 1 recommendations. Those not immediately assigned to the crew will have additional opportunities for assignment as positions open up.

Read Center News

CCC Corpsmembers spent a month in Florida helping survivors of two major hurricanes.

Congratulations to the class of 2024! Several CCC Corpsmembers are now officially high school graduates.

Corpsmembers take pride in the hard work they do across California. For our San Diego Center Corpsmembers, that pride comes from making trails safer for the public to travel and experience at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.