The VYCC experience rests in the hands of highly trained, capable, and passionate leaders. The quality and success of our program is due in a large part to their leadership and commitment. Meet our 2007 Community, Roving and Wilderness Crew Leaders.
The role of the Youth in Agriculture and Natural Resources Instructor is to work with a team of professionals to develop and deliver an applied learning model which schools statewide can adopt to enrich their own educational programs. This position’s primary role will be to lead a team of ten to twelve students, day-to-day, in a series of work based learning units. In addition, this position will play a leadership role in developing these educational units, tying them to Vermont’s Educational framework, and evaluating student performance. The Instructor will work with school partners to support students including the recruitment, hiring and orientation for crew members.
Youth in Agriculture and Natural Resources - Instructor
The role of the Youth in Agriculture and Natural Resources Crew Leader is to work with a team of professionals to develop and deliver an applied learning model which schools statewide can adopt to enrich their own educational programs. This position’s primary role will be to assist the Instructor with a team of ten to twelve students, day-to-day, in a series of work based learning units. The Crew Leader will play a supporting role in developing these educational units, tying them to Vermont’s Educational framework, and evaluating student performance. In addition, the Crew Leader will work with school partners to support students including the recruitment, hiring and orientation for crew members.
For the first time in our 22 year history, hundreds of people will come together to kick off the 2007 VYCC field season on June 16, 2007 at the VYCC headquarters in the West Monitor Barn in Richmond, VT! Corps Members will come together to meet their Crew Leaders, get their VYCC uniforms and tools, say good-bye to their families, and head out into the field with their crew for an amazing summer! All are welcome to join us as we mark the first of many start-ups in our new home. For more details, or to RSVP, please contact Kate Villa at (802) 434-3969 ext. 100 or kate@vycc.org.
Volunteers are needed to help make this a success. If you would like to lead a team-building session, drive a crew to their site in a VYCC van, or donate food needed for breakfast or lunch, please contact Heather Nielsen at (802) 434-3969 ext. 135.
Hope to see you there!
This summer, the Learn, Earn and Prosper (LEAP) program will engage blind or visually impaired youth in a program in which they will learn skills that are essential for living independently and will help them become more independent, confident, and productive young adults. LEAP is an intensive, four-week program during which youth live with an adult Crew Leader in an apartment-style suite. Throughout the experience, members will learn to use adaptive equipment to cook meals, shop for groceries, use public transportation, do laundry, and live as a community. Additionally, LEAP members will gain employment skills by participating in one of five vocational training programs at ReCycle North. Through these programs, the youth will learn professional and interpersonal skills while helping ReCycle North accomplish its three-part mission of waste reduction, job skills training, and poverty relief.
LEAP is a partnership between VYCC and the following organizations:
For more information, please contact Matt Brantner at (802) 434-3969 ext. 200 or mbrantner@vycc.org.
Since participating in the VYCC Leadership Retreat last summer, Jessica has moved to Northern California, where she participates in a student exchange program at Humboldt State University. Here, Jessica has really put her Community Leadership Plan into action. Jessica has organized several community events including a vigil to mark the 4th anniversary of the Iraq war and an event for Step it Up Day 2007 to address global climate change.
“The retreat gave me the inspiration and confidence to feel that I could organize people in my community.” Said Jessica of her experience in the 2006 VYCC Leadership Retreat. “The amount of ideas generated by the group at the retreat was mind blowing!”
What’s next for Jessica? After spending the upcoming summer working on a farm back home in Vermont, Jessica plans to participate for a second year in the exchange program at Humboldt State University. She has already been accepted as a Co-director of the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT), a campus organization dedicated to modeling sustainable practices in a residential setting. Jessica is currently volunteering on a CCAT construction crew, where she puts skills learned in the VYCC to use while rebuilding an entire house using sustainable technology. Thanks Jessica, for making such a difference in your community!
Interested in a full time position at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps? Now Hiring for three AmeriCorps VISTA positions to begin service at HQ in late August or mid November!
The VYCC experience rests in the hands of highly trained, capable, and passionate leaders. The quality and success of our program is due in a large part to their leadership and commitment. Meet our 2007 Conservation and Community Leadership Program Crew Leaders.
Learn about our AmeriCorps Conservation and Community Leadership Program
Featured Alumni - The VYCC has served over 3,000 young adults since its inception in 1985. See what these folks have to say. Meet a small sampling of our Corps Members and Alumni.
We have 35 Crew Leader positions, over 200 Corps Member positions, and 22 full-time AmeriCorps National Direct positions available for summer 2007. If you or someone you know would like to enroll, lead a crew, or be a national service volunteer, please check our website or contact us for more information!
Our staff and crews will complete high-priority conservation projects and live in the beautiful Vermont outdoors for the summer. These are incredible positions to build one’s resume, inspire personal and professional growth, and be challenged! Our crews operate ten months of the year with new positions starting as early as March 2007.
All positions are paid, and an AmeriCorps education award is available for certain positions for qualified applicants. Click here for more information or to apply online! For more information, please contact Matt Brantner at 434-3969 ext. 200 or info@vycc.org.
The Youth in Agriculture & Natural Resources Team from Mount Mansfield Union High School had a Blacksmithing unit in mid-February. Students spent the day with Matt Dragon, our Technical Skills Program Specialist and Jim Fecteau of Huntington River Smithy in his shop, where they were able to learn traditional smithing techniques to repair important pieces of the VYCC tool cache.
Students gave overwhelmingly positive feedback about the unit, saying, “This was a direct and educational way to learn many different life lessons and incorporate math, reading, and real-life job skills. It presses us to really assess the situation and act responsibly.â€
This is one of the two crews which operate year-round as part of our new work-based alternative education partnership with UVM Extension and Smokey House Center. Students attend traditional classes for the first part of the school day, and then come to the VYCC Youth Leadership, Education, and Training Center for the rest of the academic day where they earn a full compliment of credits as well as a small stipend.