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Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of young person is the Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps looking for?

  • Students that have an interest in the natural world and have a desire to learn more about resource management in State Parks and Natural Areas.
  • Individuals that are in good physical condition, as program projects are often conducted outdoors and may require manual labor or considerable physical activity.
  • Individuals with the ability to work well with others as part of a team.
  • Students with valid driver's license or dependable transportation to work site.
Due to the variety of program opportunities, each applicant is encouraged to closely review the program project and location they are pursuing.

What should a young person expect from a TYCC experience?

  • Learn new skills
  • Participate in meaningful work
  • Receive supervision, instruction and feedback from professional staff
  • Explore career options in conservation
  • Work in the outdoors and
  • A Paycheck

Will TYCC participants receive any orientation and training?
Yes, each program project will provide orientation and training applicable to the work objectives and location.

Are TYCC participants required to have any specific physical abilities, training or experience prior to starting the program?
No.

What types of projects will TYCC participants work on?
A variety of resource management projects will be planned at State Parks and Natural Areas across Tennessee, including:

  • Trail maintenance and construction
  • Historical structure restoration and preservation
  • Natural resource protection
  • Removal of invasive or non-native plants
  • Restoration of native plants
  • Identification of plants and animals for the ongoing ATBI (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory) project to inventory flora and fauna at state parks
  • Collection of location data to build Geographic Information System (GIS) inventories for park trails, boundaries, etc.
  • Archeological field work
  • Minor to moderate construction efforts, e.g. bird or bat house

Where will TYCC projects be located?
TYCC projects are scheduled for the following state park locations across Tennessee:

  • Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville
  • Booker T. Washington State Park in Chattanooga
  • Cordell Hull Birthplace/Sgt. Alvin C. York Historic Parks near Byrdstown
  • Burgess Falls State Natural Area near Cookeville
  • Cumberland Trail State Park
  • David Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg
  • Fort Loudoun State Park in Vonore
  • Natchez Trace State Park in Henderson
  • Pickett State Park in Byrdstown
  • Tims Ford State Park in Winchester
  • T.O. Fuller State Park in Memphis
Other project sites and team include:
  • Link Farm Archaeological Site
  • All Taxa Biological Inventory (ATBI) Inventory Team/Exotic Plant Removal Team in Middle Tennessee
  • Middle Tennessee State Natural Areas Team

What are the age requirements for TYCC participants?
Tennessee residents who are age 16 through 24 and actively enrolled as high school or college students (high school juniors through college seniors) may apply to the Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps.

How many will be on a TYCC Team?
Each team will have 6 - 8 individuals, including a Team Leader

How will TYCC participants be selected?
Each Tennessee State Park and Natural Area participating in the program and sponsoring a project is responsible for recruiting, selecting and hiring the TYCC teams that will work at their site.

The project coordinator listed for each site is the key contact for that location and will be responsible for making the selection decision for that particular TYCC team. Deadlines for applications and work timeframes vary for each program project. Contact project coordinator with inquiries about specific projects.

Will TYCC participants live at their project work site?
Project and participant circumstances will dictate the need for any on site accommodations. Most participants will be able to drive to their work location each day or daily transportation to and from the work site will be provided. Some projects may require participants to be housed in overnight accommodations provided at the location, e.g. park cabin, campsite or possibly hotel. If the project requires over night accommodations, housing and meals will be arranged.

Individuals are encouraged to carefully review the potential program projects to make sure they are pursuing a location that fits their own personal goals and objectives.

What type of supervision will be provided through TYCC?
Supervision will be provided by department staff at the site and a team leader selected from TYCC participants working at that project site.

Will TYCC participants be paid for their work?
Yes, participants will be considered part-time department workers and paid on a scale that reflects the difference between age and school. Participants serving as team leaders will be paid slightly more. There are no benefits available for participants.

  • TYCC member - high school students & college freshman:: $7.16/hour
  • TYCC member - college students entering sophomore, junior, senior:: $8.99/hour
  • TYCC Team Leader - college student: $10.00/hour

What standards of conduct will TYCC participants be expected to follow?
Participants will be expected to abide by general state employee and department standards of conduct. In addition, the program will expect participants to:

  • Respect and obey those in authority, e.g. department staff.
  • Be willing to work and learn in a team atmosphere.
  • Respect other members of the TYCC team.
  • Take responsibility for helping see a job through to the end.
  • Demonstrate punctuality and dependability.
  • Get along well with all kinds of people.
  • Arrive to work on time.
  • Avoid the use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco on any program project.

Will participants be required to have any special equipment?
Any required tools and equipment will be provided for participants.

How can I apply to participate in the Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps?
High school and college students between the ages of 16-24 should apply directly to the TYCC project of their greatest interest. The complete list of program projects and project coordinators is posted .

The project coordinator listed for each site is the key contact for that location and will be responsible for making the selection decision for that particular TYCC team. Deadlines for applications and work timeframes vary for each program project. Contact project coordinator with inquiries about specific projects.

Who do I contact for more information on the Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps?
Mark Stanfill, TYCC Program Manager at (615) 574-5176 or [email protected]