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Habitat Restoration

Time for transformation!

Watch CCC’s Habitat Restoration Playlist and get inspired!

Train with us

Crews
60+ Resource Crews

Locations
20 Centers

Stipend
$2,814 per month

Overview

The California Conservation Corps partners with State Parks, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and other organizations to enhance and restore California’s landscapes and watersheds. Corpsmembers enrolled the CCC assess habitats, remove invasive vegetation, plant native species, stabilize slopes, or implement additional modifications to enhance the natural environment. Corpsmembers may complete this work in forests, rivers, streams, or other sensitive habitats.

Corpsmembers assigned to natural resource, or grade, crews receive training and certifications so they can confidently engage in habitat restoration projects. Professional development courses, offered in collaboration with industry and community college partners, also prepare young adults for future careers. Overall, this program supports workforce development while also providing tangible benefits to California’s diverse landscapes.

Why We Work

California is a biodiversity hotspot! The state is home to more plant and animal species than anywhere else in the nation. However, according to California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, between 45 and 56 percent of natural vegetation in California could become “climatically stressed” by 2100. The CCC trains Corpsmembers so they can enter the workforce and tackle challenges like this!

Gear UP

Each day, Corpsmembers gear up to make the world a better place. Check out what tools they use and picture what life is like training for careers in habitat restoration!

Know Before You Go

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Schedule

Corpsmembers may work variable schedules depending on projects, typically working four 10-hour days Monday to Thursday.

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Emergencies

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

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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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Q

MK Woodie

Water Analyst
Quartz Valley Indian Reservation

Like a fish in water, MK Woodie’s time in the CCC went swimmingly! From building bridges with the CCC Santa Maria Center to fighting floods with the CCC Tahoe center, she jumped from place-to-place learning valuable skills along the way.

“My favorite experience hands-down was participating in the Mattole dives with the Watershed Stewards Program,” said MK. “There I saw 20-foot pools filled with fish water snakes, turtles, just anything. It was amazing, it’s what I love to do. My happy place.”

With a long-term goal of becoming a marine biologist, MK was able to leverage her scholarships and packed resume to land a job as a water analyst with the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation and enroll in school to obtain her associate degree in environmental science.

MK Woodie

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Q

Chynna Silva

Aquatic Pest Control Technician
California State Parks – Division of Boating and Waterways

After 20 months in the CCC, Chynna Silva made a splash with California State Parks – Division of Boating and Waterways. That’s right, she’s landed a position as an aquatic pest control technician.

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

For folks interested in the CCC, she says “it’s a job training program so make sure you use it that way to prepare for future employment.” By leveraging her experiences in the program, Chynna is floating along on her Path to Success!

Chynna Silva

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Marina Chow

Invasive Plant Management Technician
Great Bain Institute

Marina Chow never saw herself in a leadership role before joining the CCC. “I didn’t know how to be a leader,” she said. “But, I wanted to push myself, so I chose to be a crew leader.”

Marina’s experience and dedication earned her the respect of her crew, increasing her confidence and developing her leadership abilities. While at CCC Pomona, Marina also honed her plant identification and hiking skills.

After more than two years in the program, Marina is now applying everything she learned at her new job with the Great Basin Institute in Yosemite National Park. In this role, she’s surveying public lands to identify rare and invasive species and help determine if past treatments have been effective.

Marina Chow

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Jiji Plum

Park Attendant
Otay Lakes County Park (San Diego)

Julianna (Jiji) Plum transformed their life with the CCC, overcoming their past cycles of homelessness and abuse. Despite initial doubts, they persevered at the CCC San Diego Center, supported by their crew and supervisors.

“I was scared I wasn’t capable,” Jiji said, “but I concluded that if I run away cause it’s hard, I’m giving up on life.” Now holding two jobs with Otay Lakes County Park and Old Town Historic State Park, Jiji encourages others to join the CCC and move forward on their #PathToSuccess. \

“Just do it. For one year, choose yourself and take every opportunity there is,” they said. “Do your best every day. You’re going to grow and learn so much. It’s life changing.”

Jiji Plum

Explore our locations

At as many as 19 locations across California, CCC Corpsmembers work on habitat restoration projects. Specific projects and trainings vary across centers.

These kinds of projects take place at all CCC centers, except for the Camarillo, Los Piños, Magalia, Norwalk, and Vista centers.

Chico Center

As many as three Chico Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Chico Center

Delta Center

As many as three Delta Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Delta Center

Fortuna Center

As many as three Fortuna Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Fortuna Center

Fresno Center

As many as three Fresno Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 35 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Fresno Center

Inland Empire Center

As many as four Inland Empire Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 60 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Inland Empire Center

Los Angeles Center

As many as three Los Angeles Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Los Angeles Center

Los Padres Center

As many as three Los Padres Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Los Padres Center

Mendocino Center

As many as three Mendocino Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Mendocino Center

Monterey Bay Center

As many as two Monterey Bay Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 30 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Monterey Bay Center

Pomona Center

As many as four Pomona Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 60 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Pomona Center

Placer Center

As many as four Placer Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 60 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Placer Center

Redding Center

As many as three Redding Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Redding Center

Sacramento Center

As many as four Sacramento Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Sacramento Center

Santa Maria Center

The Santa Maria crew may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. A maximum of 15 Corpsmembers serve on this crew.

Visit Santa Maria Center

San Diego Center

As many as four San Diego Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 60 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit San Diego Center

Salinas Center

One Salinas Center crew may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. A maximum of 15 Corpsmembers serve on this crew.

Visit Salinas Center

Siskiyou Center

The Siskiyou Center crew may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. A maximum of 15 Corpsmembers serve on the crew.

Visit Siskiyou Center

Tahoe Center

As many as three Tahoe Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 45 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Tahoe Center

Solano Center

As many as two Solano Center crews may complete Habitat Restoration related projects. As many as 30 Corpsmembers serve on these crews.

Visit Solano Center

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

How do I join a habitat restoration crew?

Corpsmembers intersted in doing habitat restoration work will be assigned to a resource, or grade, crew at their CCC center. Project work varies at centers, so habitat restoration projects and trainings are not always guaranteed. 

Where can I work on salmon restoration projects?
For those interested in salmon restoration projects, CCC’s Mendocino and Fortuna centers have opportunities available. While completing these activities, please note that Corpsmembers often go on “spike” where they camp in locations close to the project sites.
When do salmon restoration projects take place?

Salmon Restoration Projects, or known in the CCC simply as SRP, typically take place from July to October each year. 

While SRP training takes place at the start of the season, Corpsmembers joining a center after July may be able to join a resource crew committed to SRP work. 

How do you determine when to remove invasive species?

The CCC itself does not make these kinds of decisions, rather our project sponsors provide us with the tasks of removing invasive species when they contract, or establish a memorandum of understanding, with a CCC center. 

REad Our NEws

Chico Corpsmembers worked quickly before winter rains arrived to create natural barriers and filtration systems to protect Big Chico Creek and its native wildlife.

Los Angeles Center Corpsmembers spent time spiking at Malibu Creek State Park to help protect the area from wildfire by reducing invasive plant species.

The start of the Salmon Restoration Project season—we just call it SRP—is one full of firsts for our CCC Fortuna Corpsmembers.

CCC Fortuna Corpsmembers gave a coastal forest a major boost by removing invasive English ivy.

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