Partner with the Washington Conservation Corps
Our AmeriCorps crews 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.
Applications for WCC projects open annually in February. In the spring, we review applications and select projects for our upcoming AmeriCorps service year, which runs October through early September.
Cost-share project requests for 2023-2024
Applications for WCC cost-share projects during our 2023-2024 AmeriCorps service year (October 2023 through September 2024) are closed. Limited time may become available in our crews' schedules. Prospective partners can contact a regional coordinator to learn more. Sign up for our email list to be notified when our next partner application window opens.
Is my organization eligible to apply for a project?
WCC considers applications from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental organizations, including tribal governments.
What types of projects are eligible?
WCC crew projects physically improve the natural environment or expand recreational opportunities for the public. Activities 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
To complete these projects, WCC crews typically serve from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Our crews can serve on extended schedules lasting up to eight days for remote projects.
In the fall of 2022, WCC launched a two-year environmental justice pilot project that provides WCC field-crew support for selected environmental projects without the cost-share model. Eligible partners for this pilot are tribal governments, nonprofits, or local governments with limited resources or who may not otherwise have been able to afford WCC field-crew support.
We prioritize habitat restoration and recreation projects that take place in areas with disproportionate environmental burdens, in rural counties, or in economically distressed counties.
Environmental justice pilot project requests for 2023-2024
Applications for WCC environmental justice projects during our 2023-2024 AmeriCorps service year (October 2023 through September 2024) are closed. Limited time may become available in our crews' schedules. Prospective partners can contact a regional coordinator to learn more.
Is my organization eligible to apply for the environmental justice pilot?
For this pilot, WCC will consider applications from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and governmental organizations, including tribal governments. State and federal agencies are not eligible.
In our application scoring process, we prioritize projects proposed by organizations that have not yet partnered with the WCC. For current partners, we will only consider new projects. Funding cannot be used to replace existing WCC projects.
What is my organization expected to 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
What does WCC provide?
- One six-person crew that includes five AmeriCorps members and a WCC crew supervisor
- Crew-cab vehicle with an extended bed
- Some power equipment (limited chainsaws and/or brush cutters)
- Recruitment, enrollment, evaluation, and supervision of AmeriCorps members
- Administrative services (we issue paychecks and benefits for WCC members)
- Training for members and crew supervisors, including at least 12 days of professional training for members
- Cost-share from state funding and an AmeriCorps grant
- Regular check-ins and support from WCC regional coordinator
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
Joe Hall
425-315-3088
Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas
Owen French
360-470-0004
Southwest Washington
Jason Ouellette
360-280-1100