Back Country Trail Crews

Morning stretch

before trail work begins for the day!

The back country trail crews are for youth ages 16-24 who enjoy working and living in the back country wilderness environment. These crews often back pack into the wilderness and set up camp on a project that is only accessible by foot or horseback. Working 10 days on and 4 off, the back country crews complete projects such as trail construction and restoration, fence construction/decommission, installing interpretive signs and watershed and wildlife habitat restoration.

Work projects are done on USFS, BLM, State Parks and other various state land agencies and private individuals throughout the summer season. 50 hours are set aside for crew members to engage in educational activities and labs that will increase scientific awareness, environmental conservation, and life skills. Youth older that 18 can earn possible internship credits form their college.

Team building is a fundamental issue addressed by the SLVRYC. The creation of a team is fundamental to the execution of work projects and the creation of a positive living environment. As crews work and live together in close relations for an extended period of time, crew members will learn important social skills that will help them throughout their futures.

Where today's classrooms can only provide limited space and time for hands on education, the SLVRYC has the capacity to provide direct education on natural resource issues. Crew members engage in educational activities such as journaling, discussions and hands on labs that will increase awareness of environmental issues.