Acadia Youth Conversation Corp (AYCC) members carry a piece of bog walk in Acadia National Park. (Photo by Sam Mallon/Friends of Acadia)

Corps members get to know a side of Acadia they have never ever imagined. The Corps provides essential help to the Acadia National Park trail crew. They also work alongside an array of park divisions, gaining broad hands-on experience of the park. Along the way, AYCC members growth their personal strength and perseverance and enjoy the close camaraderie of their fellow teen work crew.

Friends of Acadia provides funds and equipment to the Acadia Youth Conservation Corps, and the park provides leadership and training. In 1999, the Acadia Youth Conservation Corps program was endowed with an anonymous gift to Friends of Acadia.

At A Glance

Where: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
When: Eight weeks: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, June 24 – August 16, 2024
Age: 15-18 years old
Eligibility: US citizen, national, or permanent resident
Interest Areas: Outdoors, conservation, teamwork
Earn: $15 an hour
Applications open: Accepting applications now through March 17, 2024
Questions? Email us at aycc@nps,gov
Learn more: go.nps.gov/AcadiaYCC

An AYCC works alongside the vegetation management team in Acadia National Park. (Photo by Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

Join To Make A Difference

Prepare to sweat working on projects that sustain Acadia’s trails, carriage roads, and natural resources for future generations to enjoy. Work projects have included:

• Installing check dams to prevent erosion on Acadia’s historic trail system
• Replacing bogwalk to protect fragile ecosystems and keep visitor’s boots dry
• Clearing drainage and vegetation to protect and Acadia’s breathtaking carriage roads
• Remove invasive plants to protect native species
• Painting gates and replacing educational signage for the best visitor experience

Join To Expand Your Horizons

Formal and informal education opportunities are carefully crafted to help you develop a rich understanding and appreciation of Acadia’s natural and cultural resources. Crew members will engage with park experts and their peers through educational programs, conversations, and work projects to discover the depth of knowledge, passion, and skill that goes into conservation efforts.
You will learn:

• About a variety of NPS careers (perhaps discover one you’d like to pursue)
• Proper tool use and care
• Project-specific techniques
• About the park’s unique natural features and diverse ecosystems
• How we respond to nature and how nature responds to us
• Teamwork and leadership skills

AYCC members learn how to identify glossy buckthorn, an invasive species in Acadia National Park. The groups worked together to manage the invasive glossy buckthorn in the area. (Photo by Sam Mallon/Friends of Acadia)