About Utah Conservation Corps
Who We Are
UCC is an AmeriCorps program made up of members, staff, and partners dedicated to service to our country, community and state’s beloved public lands and local landscapes. We engage in projects throughout the state of Utah that address goals relating to environmental conservation, building leadership, strengthening education on local issues, providing hands-on training and skills to members, all while building the next generation of America’s workforce. The UCC supports Utah’s pride in our tradition of service and volunteerism to get things done.
UCC AmeriCorps members have committed to a term of service for their country that may range from 3 months to a year. Our members are individuals seeking opportunities to give back, to improve our public lands and open spaces for the next generation and explore the beauty of Utah and our neighboring states. Many of our members are current students or recent graduates looking to gain experience in the fields of natural resource conservation, education, or community services.
Utah Conservation Corps is a program of Utah State University's Center for Community Engagement.
What We Do
UCC offers service opportunities through two pathways: working on a conservation field crew or through individual placement with one of our community service or government agency partners.
AmeriCorps members serving on a field crew work on natural resource projects (hazardous fire fuels reduction, invasive species removal, resource restoration, trail maintenance, fending.) alongside other members. UCC AmeriCorps individual placement members provide conservation education, habitat restoration, and support for community volunteer efforts.
Our Mission & Values
The mission of the Utah Conservation Corps is to develop the conservation leaders of tomorrow
Our vision is to create thriving communities and conserve the natural heritage of Utah and the Intermountain West
We are committed to fostering a culture of community and service in a safe and positive environment
We Value:
- The strong traditions of conservation and stewardship in American society.
- Working hard to improve our lands and build our next generation of community leaders.
- Leadership development, personal growth, and workforce preparation for members.
- Partnerships that support our communities and address local challenges to get things done.
- The development of civically engaged and informed citizens that want to serve Utah’s communities.
History of UCC
The UCC proudly follows in the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) while expanding the national service tradition to an even wider public as a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. The UCC was developed by a group of committed citizens that formed a steering committee in the fall of 1999 and wrote a successful AmeriCorps grant proposal in the winter of 2000. The UCC began operation at Utah State University's Outdoor Recreation Center with its first cohort of AmeriCorps members in January 2001. Since inception, UCC AmeriCorps members have completed traditional conservation corps projects including trail maintenance, habitat restoration, fuels reduction, fence maintenance as well as travel management, habitat, and recreation surveys. The UCC has been a national leader in expanding the traditional conservation corps model to include AmeriCorps members serving with non-profits providing environmental education (2004), survey crews (2007), veterans crews (2010), Bilingual Youth Corps crews (2010), and bike crew (2015).
