Forest Corps Inaugural Class to be Inducted in Sacramento
July 16 2024 - 2:46PM
Today, the first class of AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps members will
be officially inducted in Sacramento, Calif. This inaugural group
of 80 dedicated individuals will lead the charge in forest
management, wildfire prevention, and ecological restoration across
the nation as part of President Biden’s American Climate Corps.
Watch the induction on July 16 at 3:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. ET
on Facebook.
The AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps or “Forest Corps” is an
innovative program established through a significant five-year,
$15.35 million Interagency Agreement with the US Forest Service.
The Forest Corps aims to address the wildfire crisis and provide
young adults with the skills and experiences needed for future
leadership roles in natural resource management, forest health, and
climate resilience.
"The Forest Corps underscores a historic moment for
environmental stewardship and signals a proactive approach to
wildfire prevention, reflecting our commitment to equipping a
diverse, new generation with the skills necessary for climate
careers," said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps
CEO. "Powered by the optimism and talent of young
Americans eager to make a difference, they will turn this moment
into a tangible movement to fight climate change."
The Forest Corps will be providing a comprehensive compensation
package for its members, who are young adults aged 18 to 26. This
package will offset all expenses of participating in the program,
be the equivalent of $15 per hour and include transportation,
clothing, a living allowance and health benefits. Participants will
dedicate 1,700 hours to serving in US Forest Service priority
landscapes. They will engage in crucial activities ranging from
hazardous fuels reduction to tree replanting, all aimed at
combating the wildfire crisis.
“These incredible young people inaugurating the Forest Corps are
going to be on the ground confronting the wildfire
crisis,” said Forest Service Chief Randy
Moore. “We are grateful to our partners at AmeriCorps and
their hard work, and look forward to working with the first Forest
Corps cohort.”
This summer, the inaugural class of 10 AmeriCorps NCCC Forest
Corps teams will embark on their first projects across different
National Forests from July to September as part of the program's
initial phase:
- Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho
- Payette National Forest, Idaho
- Boise National Forest, Idaho
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California
- Tahoe National Forest, California
- Deschutes National Forest, Oregon
- Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah
The Forest Corps’ efforts will significantly contribute to the
growth of over 1.2 billion trees across 4 million acres of US
Forest Service land and bolster wildfire mitigation. The main focus
is to decrease the risk of wildfires, protect essential
infrastructure and conserve natural resources within high-priority
wildfire areas.
“Today is a milestone for us as the first AmeriCorps NCCC Forest
Corps members deploy, marking a new era of youth-powered climate
action,” said Ken Goodson, AmeriCorps NCCC Director,
AmeriCorps. "This program will not only help with
reforestation, wildfire response and conservation of America's
public lands, but it will deliver skill-building and leadership
opportunities for young Americans. We're grateful to the Forest
Service for their partnership.”
This strategic collaboration between AmeriCorps NCCC and the US
Forest Service underlines a proactive approach toward addressing
critical environmental challenges and fostering a resilient
future.
For more information about the Forest Corps,
visit AmeriCorps.gov/ForestCorps.
###
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and
volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their
country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing
challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic
engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000
AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive
service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term,
short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more
at AmeriCorps.gov.
AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all
backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow
personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their
service. Learn how to get involved
at AmeriCorps.gov/Serve.
- AmeriCorps members serving with NCCC
National Service Press Office
AmeriCorps
pressoffice@cns.gov