What’s it like to be a VYCC Corps Member? We work hard, maintain trails, get muddy, build puncheon, and restore natural areas through erosion control and invasive species eradication. When not working, our residential crews camp out beneath the stars, cook meals over stoves, discuss controversial articles from the VYCC’s WoRd book, and partake in lighthearted shenanigans! Over four weeks of “roughing it” in the wilderness, we work together to strengthen communities and make friendships that last a lifetime.

Still having a hard time imagining a VYCC crew? Check out our slideshow of crew journal excerpts, WoRD articles, and pictures from the 2009 season!

*To read the WoRD articles and crew journals, we suggest you view the slideshow in full screen mode. After clicking play, click the full-screen button at the bottom right hand corner of the picture.

The VYCC is actively pursuing applications for work projects for the 2009 season and beyond. Now is a critical planning period for the VYCC Operations staff as we work together with prospective sponsors to develop projects for our crews to complete starting as early as next spring. Whether your project is ready to go as soon as the snow melts or it’s just in the idea stage, contact us. We can help develop your project – from layout or design to collaborative fundraising. The VYCC again anticipates receiving funding from the Vermont Agency of Transportation for the completion of transportation enhancement projects and we have extended our application deadline for these types of projects to January 15th, 2009. For more information, visit the project page on our website or contact Justin Kenney, Operations Coordinator, at 802-434-3969 x 140 or jkenney@vycc.org.

The VYCC Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) Crew has been hard at work this fall. The crew’s start date was September 3rd, and they have taken part in some exciting projects around the local area.

So far they have:

-Participated in watershed conservation projects with the Montpelier Parks and Conservation Commission
-Completed a trail clearing project on local nordic ski trails
-Worked on land stewardship projects here at the VYCC West Monitor Barn campus, which included sumac removal by the East Monitor Barn and cover crop planting in the garden

These students have also helped Maple Wind Farm harvest vegetables. Maple Wind Farm has been a strong educational partner of VYCC’s. VYCC swaps work on the farm for time on their ropes course, use of their farm equipment, and their advice for productive vegetable growing. It is a wonderful partnership!

As for the rest of October and November, they will be continuing land stewardship work at the VYCC, beginning with the VYCC Trail System and specifically the trail past the lean-tos. Their main focus will be drainage and erosion control, as water needs to be successfully guided off the trail, and drainage dips need to installed.

To learn more about the fantastic CVU School Instructors, Hillary and Matthew, click here.

The Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) is again seeking transportation enhancement projects for our crews. We are looking ahead to the 2009 field season and anticipate receiving funding from the Federal Highway Administration and the Vermont Agency of Transportation. With this funding, the VYCC will complete high-priority conservation projects that match at least one of the transportation enhancement activities listed on the back of this memo.

12 Transportation Enhancement Criteria and more information (PDF)

Project Proposal Form (PDF)

If your project is eligible and selected, you may receive the following:

• One fully-funded VYCC crew of up to eight crew members and two adult leaders
• Reimbursement for some or all materials used on your work project
• High-quality, long-lasting improvements to your community resource

If you are interested in making improvements to paths and trails that serve as community connectors and green space linkages, do not delay; we have a limited number of crew weeks available. Please see the “Hire a Crew” section of our website at www.vycc.org for more information or to view a printable project proposal form. Please mail the completed project proposal form with the requested additional information to our office by November 3, 2008.

If you have a project which needs to be completed, but you feel it does not meet the transportation enhancement criteria listed on the back of this memo, VYCC crews are also available on a cost-share basis. Please visit our website for more information on this option.

Again, the application deadline for transportation enhancement project proposals is November 3, 2008.

Please call John Leddy if you would like to discuss project ideas or for more information about the application process. We look forward to receiving your application.

John Leddy
Operations Director
802-434-3969 ext. 137