New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps
NMYCC FUNDS YOUTH-CENTERED PROJECTS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Click on the map to see projects in 2021 and 2022.
For a list of projects funded in 2023 and past projects, click here.
About YCC
The New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission is allocated state governmental gross receipts taxes to fund projects that hire youth ages 14 to 25 to carry out community and conservation projects, and be trained in a variety of job, life, career and conservation skills. Local governments, tribes, and non-profits are eligible to apply for funding.
Returning Corps members are eligible for a $500 cash benefit or a $1,500 educational voucher.
A nine-member Commission governs the NMYCC. Five are Governor appointees and four are state agency staff. Commission meetings are held about four times per year and are open to the public. Meeting information is posted here. The Commission hires and supervises the Executive Director and the Coordinator/Budget analyst.
The NMYCCC Act is the statutory authorization for the program. The YCC Rule lays out the regulations and standards developed by the Commission to administer the program.
Explore past YCC projects here!
What Corps Members Say
My goal is to continue to help my family farm and I feel that the skills I learned through my experience this summer opened a lot of doors to new ways of conserving the land that I can use on my own land now. – East Rio Arriba 2022 Survey & Inventory Project
I am proud of getting to understand more knowledge of where our Acoma people came from & also getting the experience to work away from home for awhile while doing work that it’s gonna be useful in the long run. Also meeting the crew leaders & other members that join the season this year. it was fun & memorable all in one. – Acoma Pueblo Traditional Farm Corps, 2022
I am proud of all the trails we built, knowing that all kinds of people can enjoy them and the surrounding nature. My goal is to work in the environment, possibly as a park ranger, so this will be a good addition to my resume. – EcoServants, Otero County 2022 Project
Contacts and Location
Sarah Wood, Executive Director sarah.wood@emnrd.nm.gov, 505.470.3710 (mobile)
Morgan Tolen, YCC Administrator / Coordinator, morganl.tolen@emnrd.nm.gov, 505.690.5707 (mobile)
Wendell Chino Building, 1220 South St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Our office is on the third floor.
Detailed Directions to our Office
Staff may be out of the office for travel to field sites or other NMYCC related business, so please call or text 505.690.5707 (Morgan) or 505.470.3710 (Sarah) prior to visiting