Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps

08/09/2026

🌲 That’s a wrap on the 2026 CBYCC season! 🌲

After eight busy weeks of hard work, learning, teamwork, and plenty of new experiences, the 2026 Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps season has officially come to a close!

Our crews finished their final two project days strong, building beaver dam analogs and learning about natural resource work with the Nez Perce Tribe, planting willow and cottonwood along Pete King Creek with Tribal Fisheries, collecting pine cones and learning tree-climbing techniques at the Lenore Seed Orchard, maintaining facilities and equipment, working on fencing, landscaping, and much more. They showed up ready to work right through their final field days, and we couldn’t be more proud of everything they accomplished. 💪🌿

Wednesday was Career Day, giving our crew members the opportunity to meet professionals from across the natural resource, conservation, and emergency response fields and learn about the many career paths available to them. On Thursday, we celebrated the season with an end-of-season BBQ, a well-earned chance to relax, reflect, and celebrate an incredible summer together. 🔥🍔

A huge THANK YOU to every partner, presenter, coordinator, crew lead, and crew member who made this season possible. From the field projects to the career opportunities, every person who contributed helped make this program an experience our young people will carry with them long after the season ends.

Most of all, thank you to our 2026 CBYCC crew members for showing up, working hard, supporting one another, trying new things, and making this season so memorable. We are incredibly proud of you and can’t wait to see where you go next! ❤️🌲

2026 CBYCC: officially wrapped! 🎉

THANK YOU!
Clearwater Economic Development Association
Idaho Firewise
U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Dworshak Dam - WallaWallaUSACE
Nez Perce National Historical Park
Nez Perce Tribe

08/02/2026

This season went by fast! The CBYCC crews wrapped up the last full project week, next week is two days of projects then a career day and end of season BBQ!

This past week, our crews worked alongside the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Nez Perce Tribe Fisheries.

From collecting thousands of tree protection tubes on the Teepee Fire burn scar, restoring fences at Fenn Ranger Station, monitoring invasive species at Weippe Prairie, and building Beaver Dam Analogs to improve fish habitat, our youth continued to tackle meaningful conservation work with dedication and teamwork.

The week also included some unforgettable hands-on learning experiences, packing mules and horses with the Forest Service, learning forestry skills and surveying techniques, and even receiving a behind-the-scenes tour of Dworshak Dam that many described as their favorite day of the season!

No matter the project, our crews continue to show resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to work hard while learning from the incredible partners who invest in them each week. We're proud of all they've accomplished and grateful to our partners for providing such valuable mentorship and career exploration opportunities.

THANK YOU!
Clearwater Economic Development Association - Program Management
Idaho Firewise - Program Coordination
U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests - Program Partner
Dworshak Dam - WallaWallaUSACE - Program Partner
Nez Perce Tribe - Program Partner
Nez Perce National Historical Park - Program Partner

07/26/2026

Another week of hard work is in the books for our CBYCC crews! 🌲💪

This past week our crews partnered with the U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests to improve campgrounds, picnic areas, and backcountry roads. Projects included clearing blowdown trees, maintaining recreation sites, painting picnic tables, organizing fire cache equipment, pruning white pine, repairing erosion, removing hazardous vegetation, and preparing historic buildings for restoration.

Along the way, crew members also gained hands-on experience with map and compass navigation, tree identification, archaeological and Nez Perce history, small engine repair, and wildland fire operations. They even put their teamwork into action by safely helping change multiple flat tires in the field including assisting a stranded FedEx driver!

Despite hot temperatures and changing project plans due to active fire season, these young adults continue to show resilience, adaptability, and an incredible work ethic. We're proud of everything they continue to accomplish while serving our public lands and communities.

Great work, crews! 👏

Thank you Clearwater Economic Development Association for program management and Idaho Firewise for program coordination!

07/19/2026

Project Week 4 is a wrap! 🌲💪

From improving campgrounds and trails to supporting wildfire resilience, restoring public lands, and learning from natural resource professionals, our crews continue to make a lasting impact.

This week they:
🌿 Improved campgrounds and recreation sites throughout the Selway, Lochsa, Dixie, and Red River areas.
🔥 Built new campground amenities, including fire rings and picnic tables.
🪵 Cleared miles of roadside brush, removed downed trees, and maintained public access.
🌱 Restored landscapes, installed drainage improvements, and helped prepare ornaments for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
🚜 Assisted partners with maintenance projects at Dworshak Reservoir, Pierce, Kelly Work Center, and the Lapwai Nature Trail.
🌼 Learned about wetland plants, forestry, and natural resource careers from project partners across the region.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners with the U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Nez Perce Tribe, and Dworshak Dam - WallaWallaUSACE, for providing these meaningful, hands-on opportunities. These experiences help our crew members build valuable skills while making a real difference in the communities and public lands they serve.

Thank you Clearwater Economic Development Association for program management and Idaho Firewise for program coordination!!

Great work, everyone! 👏

07/13/2026

We're proud to see the hard work of our Kooskia and Orofino crews featured in this article! Last week, these crews spent the week in Syringa helping homeowners create defensible space and improve safe access as part of a Community Wildfire Defense Grant project.

Way to represent CBYCC, you all should be proud of the impact you're making! 🌲🔥

Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps helps rural communities mitigate fire danger

07/12/2026

Another week, another incredible list of accomplishments from our CBYCC crews! 🌲💪

This week, our crews partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and Idaho Firewise to complete projects that will make a lasting impact on our public lands and local communities.

🔥 Three crews (Kooskia 1, Kooskia 2, and Orofino) joined forces at the Syringa Lane Housing Complex, where they worked side-by-side to reduce wildfire risk by clearing brush, removing ladder fuels, pruning trees, creating burn piles, and loading dumpsters full of hazardous vegetation. Along the way, they learned about fire behavior, forest management, maps and navigation, and radio communications while seeing firsthand how proactive fuels reduction helps protect homes and forests.

🪵 The Grangeville crew spent the week at Fish Creek replacing a fence damaged by winter storms, installing an impressive 24 upright posts and 81 rails. Despite being down crew members on the project, the work was completed with determination and pride.

🥾 The Palouse crew stayed busy improving recreation sites across the district by maintaining trails, campgrounds, and day-use areas, constructing and installing new signs, removing litter, and helping prepare ornaments for this year's Capitol Christmas Tree.

🌿 The Pierce crew focused on keeping Forest Service facilities looking their best by mowing, w**d eating, cleaning bridges, replacing manhole covers, and maintaining work centers and public spaces throughout the week.

Beyond the projects themselves, we're especially proud of the teamwork, leadership, and positive attitudes our crews continue to demonstrate. Whether collaborating across crews, learning from project partners, or encouraging one another through tough work, these young people are building skills that will last far beyond this summer.

Thank you to our incredible partners at the U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and Idaho Firewise for investing in these youth and providing meaningful opportunities to learn, serve, and grow. We can't wait to see what next week brings!

07/09/2026

Our hearts are with the victims, their families, friends, and the entire Pierce community as they navigate the aftermath of the July 5th tragedy.

One of those injured is a former CBYCC crew member, and in these close-knit rural communities everyone is connected in some way. We are keeping those affected in our thoughts and hoping for strength, healing, and comfort in the difficult days ahead.

If you're looking for a way to support the victims and their families, please consider donating if you're able. Every act of kindness can make a difference during a time like this. ❤️

07/05/2026

Recap from last week!🌲💪

Our youth crews stayed busy tackling a wide variety of conservation projects alongside our amazing partners at the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

This week they:
🌿 Removed invasive species like knapw**d, thistles, mullein, and witches broom.
🪵 Built a brand-new trail ramp at Giant Cedar Trail.
🪚 Cleared roads and trails by removing downed trees.
🌲 Pruned Western white pine to help prevent blister rust.
🌱 Surveyed restoration plots and mapped invasive plants with GPS.
🏕️ Maintained campgrounds, trailheads, ranger stations, and recreation sites.
🗑️ Collected trash, improved roadside corridors, and helped keep our public lands beautiful.

Along the way, crews learned about forest health, restoration, invasive species management, natural resource careers, and the importance of stewardship from dedicated professionals with the USFS and NPS.

The work is hard, but these crews continue to show up with positive attitudes, strong teamwork, and a willingness to learn. We're proud of everything they're accomplishing this summer!

Clearwater Economic Development Association - Program Managers
Idaho Firewise - Program Coordinators

This Week's Project Sponsors
U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Dworshak Dam - WallaWallaUSACE
Nez Perce National Historical Park

06/27/2026

Last week was our first official full project week of the season and our crews have been hard at work! 🌲💪

From clearing hundreds of downed trees after windstorms, maintaining miles of trails and roads, improving campgrounds and recreation sites, maintaining historic locations, and helping care for facilities across our public lands, these crews have accomplished an incredible amount in just one week.

Along the way, they've learned about forest health, explored the history of the Lochsa, toured Dworshak Dam, discovered rare American chestnut trees, and gained hands-on experience working alongside amazing partners from the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

We're especially proud of the teamwork, positive attitudes, and resilience these young people continue to demonstrate, even when the work is challenging. Their dedication is making a real difference on our public lands, and this is only the beginning of the season!

Thank you
Clearwater Economic Development Association for program management
Idaho Firewise for program coordination
Dworshak Dam - WallaWallaUSACE for program partnership and project sponsorship
U.S. Forest Service - Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests for program partnership and project sponsorship