MobilizeGreen’s Youth Conservation Corps participants gain skills and experience for future Forest S
Christine Kolinski-Public Affairs Specialist, Superior National Forest, Eastern Region, Superior National Forest
July 29, 2025
Mobilize Green staff prepare to insert wooden steps at a campground on the Superior National Forest.
This summer, over 200 young adults will learn and experience National Forest System land management through a win-win partnership with MobilizeGreen Youth Conservation Corps Program. Student applicants could choose between onsite participation on the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, or virtual participation on the Superior NF, or the San Bernardino NF in California.
Superior National Forest’s June on-site cohort hosted 11 youth participants and five crew leaders, and the July cohort had 16 youth participants and five crew leaders. Onsite participants split their time camping and staying at partnering environmental learning center (Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center or University of Minnesota’s Hubachek Wilderness Research Center), where they lived together communally, gaining life skills in team work as well. None of the over 200 youth or leaders during the June cohort were from Minnesota. The virtual option split the 197 students into two virtual cohorts that took place simultaneously with the onsite cohorts.
Participants helped Superior National Forest staff with projects ranging from recreation maintenance and improvement projects; wildlife research program data collection such as bird banding, non-native invasive species eradication project work and development of educational materials; native plant habitat protection and restoration and native wildlife research; clearing access trails for proposed prescribed fire units; development of human wildfire prevention educational materials; wildfire evacuation safety education for communities and after-the-wildfire safety and wildfire regeneration education; camping with courtesy for others and natural resources educational products and more. Both the Forest Service and Mobilize Green are excited about the next cohorts and students.
Students measure stair tread for a project at the Divide Lake Campground on the Superior National Forest.
“Working with Mobilize Green is inspiring. The skills that are developed in 15–18-year-olds through this program over a three-week period are incredible. Playing even a small role in helping to develop the next generation of land stewards is very rewarding. This project motivates me to set a good example through encouraging these participants to pursue all areas of natural resource conservation, land management and public service”–Jonathan Benson, Assistant Recreation Program Manager for the Superior NF.
The YCC participants described their experience with the program positively with aspects of it deepening their connection to nature, fostering career ideas, enhancing their conservation understanding, and broadening their sense of fulfillment, community, and personal growth.
“At home, I don’t go outside as often as I would like and being here and going outside everyday really inspired me to go outside more with nature. Also, I feel equipped with lots of resources and internships that I can do in the future which will further my career and education. I enjoyed meeting lots of different people and being around the beautiful Superior Forest. I loved everything about it!! “-Mobilize Green participant K.I.L.
“By showing me things I thought were impossible (building stairs, moving boulders) are very possible and I can do them!” -Mobilize Green participant G.L.
“It has been one of the best summer experiences I had so far. I have learned so many things about conservation and gained so many new skills in the area. Feeling like I made a difference is so rewarding. I would definitely do this program again and recommend it to others.” -Mobilize Green participant S.T.
The next session this month will have 16 on-site students and additional staff, and 110 virtual YCC participants.
MobilizeGreen participants learn natural resource management along with team building at a project site doing campground maintenance and non-native invasive species work on the Superior National Forest.
Since 2020, the partnership has connected vibrant and creative high school aged students interested in natural resource and conservation management to gain experience and skills in land management projects and programs on the Superior National Forest (NF). Region 9-Eastern Region, has partnered with MobilizeGreen to host youth conservation corps (YCC) students since 2016. MobilizeGreen has engaged over 2,500 youth in internships, youth conservation programs, and professional development opportunities since 2014.
Mobilize Green’s moto is “youth-action-impact.” They strive to empower the next generation of conservation and environmental leaders while contributing to solving environmental challenges and shaping a sustainable future through internships, youth conservation programs, and professional development opportunities.
Since the 1970s, the Superior National Forest has managed a variety of youth conservation corps (YCC) programs. Many YCC participants have gone on to careers in public service, including positions across the nation’s forests and grasslands.
Learn more about Mobilize Green
Learn more about partnerships with the Superior National Forest