Youth Development Programs

  • Indian Valley Stewardship Camp

    For the past 25 years, The Watershed Center has offered IVSC to youth in the Hayfork area, nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards. IVSC provides six weeks of free camp experiences for TK–6th grade students. Starting during spring break and extending into summer, campers participate in fun and enriching outdoor activities building self-confidence, making new friends, and connecting with nature and their community. IVSC is a collaborative effort with Mountain Valley Unified School District’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program.

  • Youth Backpacking Trip

    This immersive wilderness experience into the beautiful backcountry of Trinity County is designed for youth, ages 11+. This immersive wilderness experience gives young explorers the chance to unplug, admire breathtaking views, swim in crystal-clear alpine lakes, and learn essential backcountry skills—all while forming lasting connections with their group and the natural world. Best of all, this life-changing opportunity is completely free, with gear provided as needed, and is offered each summer.

  • Youth Conservation Corps

    For over 20 years, The Watershed Center has provided paid work-based learning experiences in natural resources management to Trinity County youth.  The YCC summer program connects teens to meaningful work, in partnership with the Forest Service and the community.  Through hands-on projects—such as trail maintenance, invasive weed removal, and wildlife habitat restoration—participants build job skills while cultivating environmental stewardship and civic responsibility.

  • Trinity Together

    A fiscally sponsored program of The Watershed Center, Trinity Together supports college and career readiness for all residents of Trinity County. Initiatives support a Cradle to Career Partnership model that provides hands-on learning, career pathway navigation, and work-based learning opportunities.

    www.trinitytogethercradletocareer.org

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Training the Next Generation of Stewards: The Youth Conservation Crews

The Watershed Center employed 10 high-school aged students for a 7-week Youth Conservation Crew 2025 season. The YCC program partnered with local tribes, agencies, and advocacy organizations to implement a variety of priority stewardship projects. Participants gained hands-on work experience, bolstered resumes, and developed skills to take with them into the future. In this video, Josh Smith describes the ~20-year history of the YCC program at the Watershed Center and its impact on career readiness and workforce development for local youth. This program was made possible with funding from the Klamath River Fund: Community Impact Grant 2025 of the Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation.