Camp · Outdoors/Nature · Ages 15–18
Directory · United States · Wyoming · Yellowstone National Park
▌ Outdoors/Nature · Ages 15–18

Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program

Yellowstone National Park

The Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a residential program for youth aged 15-18, offering hands-on conservation work and educational experiences...

▌ Editor's read The Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program is a residential summer program for 15-18 year olds, focusing on conservation work within Yellowstone National Park. The program is operated by the National Park Service in partnership with the University of Wyoming, making its owner type 'university' due to the direct partnership and operational involvement. Participants live in dormitories at the University of Wyoming-National Park Service Research Center in Grand Teton National Park, and are transported daily to Yellowstone for work. The program is free for participants, covering lodging, meals, and transportation during the program. The website states that participants will work on projects such as trail maintenance, fence removal, and invasive species management. While not a traditional 'camp' in the commercial sense, it provides a structured, immersive outdoor experience. The National Park Service's official Yellowstone Instagram (@yellowstonenps) and Facebook (YellowstoneNationalPark) pages frequently feature park activities, though specific YCC posts are less common. There is no mention of ACA accreditation or specific staff-to-camper ratios on the program's page. Google reviews for 'Yellowstone National Park' are overwhelmingly positive (4.8 stars from 160,000+ reviews), reflecting the park's overall reputation, but specific reviews for the YCC program are not readily available.
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Who thrives here Ages 15–18

Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in outdoors/nature, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.

Facts & Credentials

Program type
Overnight camp
ACA accredited
Not verified
Established
Not listed
Operator
University program
Staff-to-camper ratio
Not listed

How we verify these →

Details

  • Category: Outdoors/Nature
  • Ages: 15–18
  • Hours: 40 hours/week
  • Address: PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168
  • Cost notes: Participants receive $10.5/hour for 40 hours/week, with a charge of $3/day for food. This is an employment program, not a camp fee.

Logistics

  • Lunch provided: No
  • Transportation: No
  • Financial aid: No
  • Setting: mixed

Frequently asked about Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program

What ages does Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program accept?
Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program is open to children ages 15–18. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
How much does Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program cost?
Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. Participants receive $10.5/hour for 40 hours/week, with a charge of $3/day for food. This is an employment program, not a camp fee. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
What are Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program's hours?
Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program runs 40 hours/week. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
Who runs Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program?
Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
Does Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program provide lunch?
Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.

Planning guides

Editorial checklists to use before you compare Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Program with other camps.