Frequently Asked Questions

Each crew is supervised by two crew leaders. Their contact information and backgrounds will be sent to you in our Session Information email that will be sent two weeks to a month before your child's start date. Crew leaders are supported by Field coordinators and the staff at RMYC.

Our crew leaders go through a 3 to 5 week training. In this training, they are medically certified by Desert Mountain Medicine with either a Wilderness First Responder or a Wilderness First Aid Certificate. This includes CPR/First Aid and administration of Epinephrine. All crew leaders will be trained in Positive Youth Development, Defensive Driving techniques, technical trail building skills, some level of Mental Health First Aid, and all RMYC Policies. Crew Leaders will also learn LNT practices and how to set up camp.

We require a Motor Vehicle Report that they must pass in order to drive our vehicles and trailers. All leaders are verified for work through I-9 Federal Documents. They must also pass the National Service Criminal History Check through TrueScreen and Field Print. If they do not pass this, they will not be hired.

All of our crews are supported directly by their Field Coordinator. They visit crews at least once a week to check in with leaders and members. Field Coordinators have previous corps or conservation experience and are vetted in the same way as the Crew Leaders. Field Coordinators make sure that all RMYC policies are being upheld by the Crew Leaders and the Crew Members. If a problem arises that cannot be sorted out by the Crew Leaders and Field Coordinators, full time staff will step in a resolve the situation.

All of our Regional Leaders are Wilderness First Responder Certified, so they are taught basic wilderness medical skills and when it's appropriate to take people out of the field. We also put them through the basic level of mental health training. All crews are required to carry a Spot device(Satellite Communication Device) with texting capabilities to the office, emergency service contact, an SOS button that gives emergency services their location, and we require them to send their check-in coordinates when they get to camp and the worksite every day! If they are in service, we have a 24/7 Duty Officer number for emergencies that is always staffed by a program staff member that is required to be in cell phone service. Our crews also are supported by a Field Coordinator who visits each crew once a session or more and deals with crew dynamics, paperwork, and will directly support with any issues that are happening.