Partner with the Washington Conservation Corps
Our field crews and Individual Placement members complete habitat restoration and trail improvement projects for a diverse network of more than 100 federal, local, state, and nonprofit partners. We offer our services at a reduced rate by sharing costs with partner organizations.
Partner applications open annually in the winter. In the spring, we review applications and select projects for our upcoming AmeriCorps service year, which runs October through early September.
How to apply
WCC is currently accepting applications for partner organizations and projects during our 2025-2026 program year (Oct. 2025 - Sept. 2026).
Before applying, please review the instructions and application questions. We recommend preparing your responses in advance and pasting them into the application.
This application is for organizations requesting crew time through WCC's cost-share program, crew time through WCC’s environmental justice program, or positions through WCC’s Individual Placement program.
You will select the program you wish to apply for at the beginning of the application. If your organization is applying for multiple programs, you must submit separate applications for each program. Each completed application can only be applied to one program.
If you are unable to complete an application via the online form, answer the questions in a PDF or Word document and submit it via email to wccactivities@ecy.wa.gov.
For questions about the application, contact Josiah Downey, WCC field operations manager.
Applications are due by 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 31, 2025, for priority consideration.
Our programs
Cost-share program
WCC's cost-share program provides field crew support for projects that physically improve the natural environment or expand recreational opportunities for the public.
Individual Placement program
WCC's Individual Placement (IP) program provides AmeriCorps member positions that serve individually within partner organizations to support volunteer recruitment, environmental education, environmental research, and project management. Partner organizations recruit and select their IP member and provide day-to-day supervision of the member.
Environmental justice program
WCC's environmental justice program provides field crew support on environmental restoration and outdoor recreation enhancement projects that advance environmental justice goals — at no cost to the partner organization. Check out our blog to view examples of past environmental justice projects.
Environmental justice program partners must provide project direction and oversight, materials (project supplies such as much or plants), and any necessary permits. Individual Placement positions cannot be funded through the environmental justice program.
Environmental justice program resource links:
Eligible partners
WCC considers applications from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental organizations, including tribal governments. State and federal agencies are not eligible for our environmental justice program.
Eligible field crew projects
WCC field crews supports projects that physically improve the natural environment or expand recreational opportunities for the public. Crew projects may include:
- Instream large, woody debris placement, bank stabilization, or fish-barrier removal
- Livestock exclusionary fence construction
- Manual and chemical invasive-species suppression and removal
- Native species installation and maintenance
- Trail, boardwalk, bridge, and infrastructure improvements, such as campgrounds and picnic shelters
- Wetland creation or restoration
- Wildlife structure installation
- Wildland fire mitigation, including thinning and fuels reduction
WCC crews serve from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with the option for extended schedules up to eight days for remote or backcountry projects. A fullterm field crew serves up to 164 days with a partner during WCC's program year (October through early September).
Eligible Individual Placement projects
Individual Placement (IP) members serve individually with a partner organization. IP member activities must support environmental monitoring or research, environmental education, volunteer leadership, environmental restoration, or outdoor recreation enhancement. IP projects may include:
- Designing and conducting restoration projects
- Environmental monitoring and data collection
- Environmental research and data analysis
- Leading volunteers on environmental projects
- Designing outreach material to recruit volunteers or support education programs
- Teaching children or adults
IP positions are 11-month terms (October through early September), and members serve 40-hours over four or five days each week.
Through our cost-share model, WCC and partners work together to complete environmental projects while providing members with a meaningful service experience.
Partner oganizations provide:
- Cash matching funds
- Timely processing and payment of monthly invoices
- Site orientation and project-specific guidance at the start of new projects
- Required permits and licenses for projects, as applicable
- Single point of contact for WCC coordination
- Feedback on WCC-supported projects through WCC-provided survey
- Secure meetup location for crew, including workspace for supervisors and for sponsors hosting a crew all-service year
- Project diversity to support well-rounded WCC member experience
- Specialized tools, including equipment rental and personal protective equipment, when required
WCC provides:
- Recruitment, enrollment, evaluation, and supervision of AmeriCorps members
- Administrative services (we issue paychecks and benefits for WCC members)
- Formal training including at least 12 days of professional development for members
- Cost-share from state funding and an AmeriCorps grant
- Regular check-ins and support from WCC regional coordinator
For crews, WCC also provides:
- One six-person crew that includes five AmeriCorps members and a WCC crew supervisor
- Crew-cab vehicle with an extended bed
- A basic compliment of hand tools and some power equipment (limited chainsaws and/or brush cutters)
For Individual Placements, WCC also provides:
- One AmeriCorps IP member for 11months
- Gloves and rain gear, as needed
WCC regional coordinators
North Puget Sound
Vanessa Lott
360-594-7469
King County (Renton and Redmond)
Liz Esikoff
360-280-6708
King and Snohomish counties (Issaquah, Kirkland, and Snoqualmie)
Julia Banzai
564-233-1353
Eastern and Central Washington
Chris Gaye
509-607-4250
Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas
Owen French
360-470-0004
Southwest Washington
Jason Ouellette
360-280-1100