LACEY – The Washington Department of Ecology is now hiring for summer work with its Pierce and Thurston county Ecology Youth Corps crews.

In 2016, youth corps crews picked up 1.2 million pounds of litter and cleaned 5,445 miles of roads statewide. Since 1975, the program has hired more than 12,000 Washington teens, offering them work experience, a summer job, and the chance to preserve our state’s natural beauty and protect the environment.

Teens chosen for the youth corps will work 7.5 hours a day, Monday through Friday, and will work one of two, four-week sessions: June 26 to July 21, or July 24 to Aug. 16. Participants will earn $11 an hour and be based with a crew located either in Tacoma, Puyallup, or Lacey.

Applicants must be ages 14-17 by their first day of employment. Applications are due by April 3 and are available through area school counselors and on our Ecology Youth Corps page.

For more information, contact Ecology Youth Corps coordinator Ariona at 360-407-6351 or ariona@ecy.wa.gov.