OUTDOOR LEADERS
GRADES 10, 11, & 12
What to Expect
RMYC can be an empowering and life-changing experience that presents you with the opportunity to be apart of a part of a one-of-a-kind community focused on teamwork, growth, making connections, and learning new skills. Living and working on a crew is totally immersive and, without a doubt, challenging. The relationships and skills you build, in addition to the work you can accomplish, will make it all worth it. Many people who come to RMYC have little to no experience in this type of setting, and that's okay. We all start somewhere! This is a place to learn and challenge yourself. We only ask you to have a passion for the outdoors, an adaptable mindset, and the ability to push out of your comfort zone! Outdoor Leader Crews four-week sessions. These crews will comprise youth in grades 10-12 who will complete 32 hours of project work. On your recreation weekends, you re-supply groceries, shower, relax, and adventure!
Sign up, Session Dates, and Packing List
The Outdoor Leader Program employs youth ranging from 10th-12th grade. We prioritize applicants from counties in Northwest Colorado. If spaces are still available as program sessions near, we will reach out to applicants applying from different locations.
Member placement for the Outdoor Leaders program is NOT first come first served. is then based on quality of the application, genuine interest in the nature of the program, and attendance at an information session.
2026 Outdoor Leader Session Dates
Session 1: June 7-July 2
Session 2: July 12-August 6
A Day in the Life
YCC Outdoor Leaders is designed for youth entering grades 10-12 who will complete 32 hours of service. On your recreation weekends, you re-supply groceries, shower, relax, and adventure! You will arrive on crew the Sunday of your session, head to camp set up, and prep for the week ahead! The following schedule is based on a service project day.
6:00 AM
Breakfast
The crew gets up at 6 am to prepare breakfast and lunch for the day. All the food is communal but everyone makes their own breakfast and lunch. Generally, crews take 30 minutes to eat and pack their food before beginning kitchen cleanup. After dishes are done, and food is stored safely, people take time to brush their teeth, fill personal water bottles, and make sure their day packs are ready to go for the workday ahead!
7:30 AM
Commute to Worksite and Stretch and Safety Circle
The workday starts with a stretch/warm-up circle followed by a safety briefing on the day's work.
Commutes from camp to work count as part of the 8-hour workday and are project-dependent. For some projects, you may drive to the work site, but more commonly, you will be hiking. Hiking distances range from a few minutes to 8+ miles, carrying personal items and tools. RMYC completes front-country and backcountry projects, and your commute may include backpacking with personal camping gear and group gear/food to a backcountry campsite. Once we arrive at the site, we will get to work!
10:30 AM
15-Minute Break
Usually, around 10:30, crews will take a 15-minute paid break to sit down and refuel with snacks! Crews get two 15-minute breaks per day.
12:30 PM
Lunch Break
Crews take a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.
2:15 PM
15- Minute Break
4:00 -
5:00 PM
Arrive Back at Camp
The crew will leave the worksite with enough time to commute back to camp. On the last day of the project, crews are allotted 30-minutes as part of the workday for tool maintenance. The work is done for the day, and people usually take some personal time before dinner to relax, read, go for a swim, etc.
6:00 PM
Dinner
Crew members take turns cooking dinner for the entire crew each night. Everyone will eat together, and then clean up together, including dishes, trash, grey water, and food storage.
7:30 PM
Post-dinner
All members are expected to participate in a nightly debrief as a crew, educational activities, or miscellaneous camp chores. As chores are split amongst the crew, free time varies from day to day to engage in solo activities such as reading, writing, drawing, puzzling, and other such activities.