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Culinary

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Train with us

Positions
Approximately 60

Locations
Nine Centers

Stipend
$2,814 per month

Overview

The California Conservation Corps trains young adults for careers in commercial kitchens, resorts, catering companies, and restaurants. Culinary Corpsmembers provide meals to residents living at CCC’s centers, prepare food for crews when they’re camping at project sites, and assist during emergencies – where they may cook for upwards of 500 people.

Corpsmembers enrolled in the program earn industry-recognized credentials, starting with their ServSafe Food Handler certificate. They may also obtain their ServSafe Food Manager and ServSafe Allergen certifications. The aim of this program is to equip Corpsmembers with the skills and experience necessary for employment as a culinary professional or entrance into culinary schools.

Why We Work

Food provides Corpsmembers with the energy needed to restore habitats, build trails, and fight wildfires! Young adults in CCC’s culinary crews keep everyone motivated and ready to tackle tough conservation challenges by preparing nutritious meals. The kitchen is what keeps everyone going!

Let them Cook

Corpsmembers learn the culinary essentials while enrolled in the program! Check out CCC life inside the kitchen.

Know Before You Go

Schedule

Culinary crews typically work split 10-hour shifts, to cover breakfast and dinner service. Specific hours vary by center.

Emergencies

Corpsmembers must be willing to respond to emergencies and be dispatched for lengthy periods of time with little to no advanced notice.

Eligibility

There is no prior experience required or additional eligibility requirements, aside from our standard program eligibility, to serve on these crews.

Find Your Path

Work with CCC Career Navigators to chart out your path to success! CCC helps Corpsmembers leverage their skills and training to launch meaningful careers. Don’t believe us?! Hear from CCC alumni.

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Explore our locations

CCC offers culinary training at nine locations across California.

Residential

  • Camarillo Center
  • Delta Center
  • Fortuna Center
  • Los Padres Center
  • Los Piños Center
  • Magalia Fire Center
  • Mendocino Center
  • Placer Center
  • Tahoe Center

Camarillo Center

At the Camarillo Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Camarillo Center

Delta Center

At the Delta Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Delta Center

Fortuna Center

At the Fortuna Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Fortuna Center

Los Padres Center

At the Los Padres Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Los Padres Center

Los Piños Center

At the Los Piños Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Los Piños Center

Magalia Fire Center

At the Magalia Fire Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Magalia Fire Center

Mendocino Center

At the Mendocino Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Mendocino Center

Placer Center

At the Placer Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Placer Center

Tahoe Center

At the Tahoe Center as many as eight Corpsmembers are assigned to the Culinary crew.

Visit Tahoe Center

Ask Us Anything

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

Talk to A Recruiter

Do I need prior experience to join?

No prior work experience is required to join the CCC, we will help you get trained and certified so you can launch a successful career.

In terms of education, you do not need a diploma or degree to join. We have Corpsmembers who have college degrees, some who’ve attended college for some or no time, and some who need their high school diploma. Please note, if you have not obtained your high school diploma, while enrolled in the CCC you must work to earn one through our partnered charter schools.

What kind of cooking will I do?

CCC culinary crews focus on institutional cooking, preparing food for large groups of Corpsmembers living at residential centers. With this training, culinary crews learn bulk-cooking methods which are useful for future careers in settings like military kitchens, hospitals, schools, cruise ships, and other similar workplaces. Institutional cooking is valuable because it reduces packaged waste, is cost-effective, and feed large groups of people efficiently!

What are some of the specific skills I will learn?

Each CCC residential center kitchen operates differently to meet the unique needs of each location. However, Corpsmembers enrolled in the culinary program all benefit from similar trainings and experiences. In addition to earning ServSafe certificates, Corpsmembers learn the culinary essentials while enrolled in the program. Specific skills include, but are not limited to:

• Menu Planning
• Specialized Diets
• Reading Recipes
• Measurements and Conversions
• Basic Knife Skills
• Mise en Place
• Proper Food Storage

Certain residential centers also support community gardens which Corpsmembers can nurture and source fresh ingredients from.

Read Our News

Corpsmembers from six CCC centers took part in the first ever CNRA Culinary Pop-up event, putting their culinary skills to the test in front of a who's who of leadership.

When large-scale wildfires ignite, everyone does their part to make a difference. For culinary crews at the CCC Magalia Fire Center, it’s a chance to put their skills and knowledge to the test.