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How does RMYC recruit participants?
Recruitment focuses on northwest Colorado with participants also being accepted from the entire state of Colorado, the United States and abroad. For those interested in applying, applications may be found at local school guidance offices, Workforce Centers, and on our website.
Is there an income or "at-risk" requirements for participants?
No. RMYC recruits 16-25 year olds and strives to engage both "as-risk" and "mainstream" youth and young adults in our program in order to balance crews and promote diversity.
What kinds of projects does RMYC perform?
RMYC traditionally completes semi-technical and technical conservation-related projects. Projects include trail construction and maintenance, fence construction and disassembly, habitat restoration, streambed repair; dry stone masonry, noxious weed mitigation and fire fuels reduction. RMYC crews arrive at the project site with all necessary hand tools and safety gear and are fully supervised by a qualified adult supervisor. Many crews camp near the work site to reduce travel time and maximize project work time.
Are participants volunteering?
No. RMYC participants are paid a competitive stipend for their work and may also be eligible for AmeriCorps education awards depending on their term of service and position.
How is the program funded?
RMYC is funded through a variety of sources including local, state, and federal governments, private and public foundations, earned income, individual and corporate donations, and program fees. If you are interested in supporting RMYC's programs, please contact Development Director, Sheila Wright.
How does RMYC differ from other environmentally-based programs?
RMYC uses the employment experience, through conservation-based projects, as the means for providing a structured, disciplined environment where young adults can gain on-the-job skills; learn self-reliance and healthy lifestyles skills. RMYC allocates about 10-20% of crew time to education - including healthy lifestyles mentoring, environmental education, personal growth and career development.
If someone wanted to become a participant, who would they contact?
To become a participant in a RMYC program, check out our open positions section, or call (970)879-2135 to request information and an application.
What is your record for safety with regard to accidents, snakes, ticks, bears, poison ivy etc?
We have an excellent record for safety. I would be happy to share our most recent worker's comp summary with you. Our primary incidents tend to be altitude sickness (dehydration, overheating), mainly with corps members who come from lower elevations and are not accustomed to drinking huge amounts of liquids; and crushed fingers - this is primarily on our Colorado Fourteeners Initiative crew which works extensively with rocks. We have a competitive risk factor ratio with worker's comp, and it improves yearly. Safety is our number ONE concern, and it is the first consideration in every decision. We have a comprehensive risk management plan that we are happy to share.
What kind of housing is available?
Our corps members sleep in tents. The 16-18 year old Regional Conservation Crew members are provided with tents from our program, while 18-25 year olds on specialty crews bring their own. All corps members are required to provide their own sleeping bags and pads. We do have some for lease. Upon hire, RMYC provides corps members with a comprehensive hiring packet, which includes an equipment list.
Are the meals organic, wholesome?
We provide healthy, well-balanced meals. When not cost prohibitive, we recommend organic. We provide nutrition training, which crew mentors facilitate with members throughout the session. Crew leaders and mentors are responsible for the menu planning, purchase, and facilitation of meal production.
Do you offer a vegetarian option?
It is difficult to appease vegetarian diets, but past corps members have been able to manage to maintain a vegetarian diet. We cannot promise a selective vegetarian diet, but will do our best to accommodate vegetarians.
What kind of supervision is provided--especially in the evenings?
RMYC crews are under 24 hour supervision by a qualified crew leader. Each crew of 10 includes the leader, two mentors (non-supervisory, but assist with many logistics of the crew life), and 5-7 members. Each 2-3 crew is managed by a Field Supervisor. We have 3 field supervisors for 9 crews this summer. Overseeing the Field Supervisors is the Logistics Manager, then the Program Director, the Executive Director and finally our board of directors.
What is the schedule of a typical day? A typical week?
Typically, the crew will wake early (6 am or earlier?), eat breakfast, do a safety circle, then head to the worksite. They generally work 5 eight hour days. After work, the crew returns to camp, and members perform daily chores - such as tool maintenance, meal preparation, water purification, camp clean up, recycling, etc. Time permitting, members may be able to swim, take a short hike, play groups games, or have quiet time. After dinner, the crew engages in a 1 hour education session. Bedtime is at least 8 hours before wake up time, often more like 9. On the weekends, a crew may pack up camp, and move to another site. They may do a recreational activity on Saturday such as swimming, climbing a mountain, or playing groups games. By Sunday, they relocate to their next week's work site. Crews camp at or near their project locations.
Is it a healthy routine with reasonable bedtime, chance to do laundry etc?
Bedtime is at least 8 hours before wakeup, sometimes 9 or 10. Laundry is generally done on their way through a town on the weekend or in a creek or lake if they are unable to go through a town.
Are boys and girls working on the same team?
All of our crews are coed. Staff tents are always situated between the boys' tents and the girls' tents!
Are participants required to stay with the same team for the whole month?
Group dynamics are an important factor in the success of RMYC. Corps members are required to remain with the same crew for their service period.
What kind of recreational and educational activities do you offer other than on-the-job training?
Our educational program is called "seed", or the Social Experience of Education and Discussion. It happens at least each evening for an average of 1 hour, and many times as opportunities presents themselves throughout the day. Seed can include environmental education, leadership and teamwork, healthy lifestyles such as nutrition and physical fitness, current affairs, ATOD education (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs), and team building activities. RMYC also engages community volunteers to facilitate field-based workshops, generally having them describe their career and the steps they took to get there. Let me know if you're interested!
Are you within walking distance to a town?
We are generally not within walking distance to towns.
How are the families able to communicate with the corps members?
Members are generally not able to access email or phones, but they may occasionally be able to do so on weekends if they go through a town. RMYC office staff has regular contact with crews, and are able to correspond important messages to/from the field as necessary. Letters are always appreciated by corps members. |
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