Who We Are

THE MCC MISSION

Inspiring young people through hands-on conservation service to be leaders, stewards of the land, and engaged citizens who improve their communities.

Those are the words we live by and the mission we serve here at Montana Conservation Corps. We strive to give every member the experience of a lifetime through challenging conservation projects and the rigors of life outdoors, coupled with education developed specifically to create engaged citizens and lifelong environmental stewards.

Our corps members say MCC is a great place for personal growth, to learn practical job skills, build confidence, strengthen communication and leadership competencies, and to develop the ability to work well with people from all walks of life. 

OUR COMMUNITY

We care - At MCC, we center relationships and strive for excellence in building a community where everyone experiences safety, belonging, and validation. Authentic connection enables us to relate across differences, build empathy, cultivate wellbeing, and lean into challenges together.

We empower - MCC instills hope and purpose in young people. MCC is a catalyst for personal development where corps members may cultivate self-efficacy and resilience, develop a growth mindset, and learn work and life skills that help them thrive and grow as leaders in all their communities.

We conserve - Conservation connects us to the land and to the legacy of corps. We work to improve our lands and communities, conserving resilient landscapes that may adapt to changing conditions. We serve so that all people may positively experience these lands. Our place-based learning fosters a commitment to the land and to our communities.

We honor - We acknowledge the many indigenous peoples with ties to the lands on which we serve, and we recognize their continued presence, sovereignty, and stewardship. We respect the history of and continued stewardship by all the people and agencies who live and work here.

We serve - We believe in service as a strategy for personal development and community action. Through service, we foster compassion and learn skills for life. We are committed to serving our colleagues, corps members, project partners, and communities.

We lead - We believe that anyone can be a leader and that leadership can be learned. It starts with self-knowledge, but encompasses the whole team. As leaders, we create positive change, regardless of our position of power.

We work for quality results - We work hard and persevere, yet value a culture of well-being and balance. We proudly roll up our sleeves to get things done. We strive together for personal and organizational accomplishment, learning from mistakes and pushing through challenges

HISTORY

The Montana Conservation Corps grew out of great ideas, great people, and a great legacy. Stories of the men who joined and served in the male-only Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression could be heard at coffee counters across Montana. Tales of their accomplishments to improve the landscape, including the development of Montana's first state park at the Lewis and Clark Caverns, and the spirit of the men who joined were numerous and verging on mythical, in the best tradition of Montana.

In 1990, Human Resource Development Council agencies from Billings, Bozeman, and Kalispell established the Montana Conservation Corps. Our first Executive Director, Steve Nelsen, tells of starting MCC with nothing but a desk, a phone, and a box of Kleenex.

The first MCC crews were fielded in the summer of 1991 through the cooperation of the HRDC and sponsoring agencies such as the City of Billings, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service. In 1993, MCC successfully obtained AmeriCorps funding, which doubled the budget and established regional offices.

Now MCC has a multimillion-dollar budget and has matured into a leader in the national corps movement. We are proud of our humble roots and thankful for all those who have contributed to the development of MCC over the years. To all of our alumni, staff, board volunteers, and community champions—thank you for being a part of the Montana Conservation Corps.