Youth Corps has raked, bagged, and removed untold tons of pine needles. But the program’s greatest impact is cultivating Nederland-area youth.

Youth Corps offers teens aged 14-17 more than a summer job. It’s an opportunity to engage in meaningful service work and develop valuable life skills – all while making money and building friendships.

Can going on adventures out in nature really foster leadership, perseverance, and healthy risk taking in high schoolers? We decided to ask one.

TeamWorks is a conservation-based youth employment program operating in partnership with TEENS, Inc. and Lincoln Hills Cares. Each summer, crews of youth aged 16-20 work out in greenspaces across Colorado, learning how to use tools, maintain trails, and mitigate fire risk.