OUTDOOR LEADERS
GRADES 10, 11, & 12
2026 Application, Session Dates, & Position Description
The YCC Outdoor Leaders 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. Membership hiring is based on demonstration of interest in the program and attendance to a required information and paperwork session.
YCC Outdoor Leaders
Member Applications
If you are entering grades 10-12 next year and are eager to gain skills,
make a real difference in the world,
and grow personally and professionally,
APPLY NOW!
Remember, you will receive a stipend in compensation!
Application and Notification Steps:
1. Follow the link below to complete an application. Expect this to take at least an hour, as it requires a Cover Letter along with your application. [Youth applicants must complete their own application.] Take note of the date you apply; this will place you in a hiring block.
2. Based on your application date, you will be placed into a Hiring Block. Each hiring block has a notification window. The notification window indicates when you can anticipate an offer OR waitlist email. For example, if you applied on February 3rd, you are in Hiring Block 1 and will receive an email between March 2 and March 13.
Hiring Block 1: February 2 - February 28
Notification Window: March 2-March 13
Hiring Block 2: March 1-March 15
Notification Window: March 16-March 27
Hiring Block 3: March 16-April 3
Notification Window: April 6-April 17
Hiring Block 4: April 4 and beyond
Notification Window: Ongoing
(within 2 weeks of application received)
3. If you receive an offer email, you are required to attend an information session. The information session will give you a more comprehensive idea of what you are signing up for. Parents/guardians are encouraged to join, as well. If unable to attend a virtual session, applicants are required to email Shawn O'Kane at SOKane@rockymountainyouthcorps.com to schedule an individual interview.
4. If you are placed on a waitlist, offers are ongoing until the start of the session. If you have found something else in the meantime, we appreciate you letting us know. If we cannot offer you a position this year, we encourage you to think about us again in the future!
5. Prior to the session, you will start receiving paperwork emails outlined in your offer email. We ask that you start completing your paperwork as soon as it is received. In your required paperwork session, you can ask us questions directly, and we can help troubleshoot specific issues. This ensures a smooth start to your session!
6. Roughly 3 weeks prior to your session start date, you will receive a welcome email outlining more specific information, such as drop-off time, location, and crew leader information. You will also receive a phone call from your crew leaders.
Please note: Crews will be organized by age and grade (10th-11th grade and 11th-12th grade) along with a balanced gender distribution. We do our best to support friend requests, but there are no guarantees.
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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 resupply 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.
RMYC can be an empowering and life-changing experience that presents you with the opportunity to be 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!
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.