Overview

Youth Program Leader Positions

Youth Expedition & Helena Youth Corps Leaders support and supervise Montana high school youth in the successful completion of natural resource and community service projects, provide on-site management of a youth crew, implement curriculum and actively facilitate crew dynamics to ensure a high level of crew community and safety.   

Senior Youth Crew Leaders work closely with the youth staff to deliver a high-quality experience for both leaders and youth participants. They assist this team by mentoring and supporting Expedition Leaders throughout their training and field season, ensuring the successful completion of MCC youth projects and programming, and the adherence of all MCC policies and procedures. While supporting crews in the field, this person will need to maintain strong working relationships with project partners, parents/guardians, and community organizations. If the need arises, the Senior Youth Crew Leader may be called upon to lead or join an existing crew for the duration of the hitch. This could be anywhere from one night to eleven days.

The Senior Youth Crew Leader will participate in the Adult Program Leadership Development Program (LDP), where they will have the opportunity to attend leadership workshops, technical training, and field skills development, as well as engage in early-season projects to further enhance their skill set. Additional Youth Program-specific training will be provided leading up to the start of the youth season. Through the Adult Program LDP, the Senior Youth Crew Leader will be eligible to earn Chainsaw and Crosscut certification, as well as Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification. 

In this role, the Senior Youth Crew Leader will apply their skills and knowledge to mentor Expedition Leaders and support the successful delivery of the Youth Program in collaboration with the Youth Program staff team, while providing on-the-ground field support to youth crews.

Youth Expedition Leaders will work with a co-leader to oversee 4-6 youth participants on overnight service projects. These projects range in 3-11 days in length with one week of local community-based projects. Youth participants are Montana residents ages 14-18 years old and come from a variety of backgrounds. Each expedition will be with a different roster of youth participants. Youth Expedition Leaders and their crews will camp for the full duration of the session, oftentimes in remote locations on varied terrain and in all weather conditions. Camping accommodations are typically tent camping in sites that you’re able to drive up to. Work may include building or maintaining trails, building fences, and habitat restoration, among many other types of conservation projects.

Helena Youth Corps Leaders support and supervise Montana 5 high school youth in the successful completion of natural resource and community service projects, provide on-site management of a youth crew, implement curriculum and actively facilitate crew dynamics to ensure a high level of crew community and safety. Leaders will work with a co-leader to oversee 5 youth participants on overnight conservation-based projects. These projects will be 11 days in length and each project will be in a different area of the Helena Lewis & Clark National Forest. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the Rocky Mountain Front! Youth participants are Montana residents ages 17-18 years old and come from a variety of backgrounds who will be serving as AmeriCorps members and will be participating for all 4 sessions throughout the summer season. The crew will camp for the full duration of the session, oftentimes in remote locations on varied terrain and in all weather conditions. Camping accommodations are typically tent camping in sites that you’re able to drive up to. Work may include building or maintaining trails, building fences, and habitat restoration, among many other types of conservation projects

Benefits for Youth Leader Positions:

• Living Stipend: $1,200 - $1,400 biweekly before taxes (depending on position and term length)
• AmeriCorps Education Award: Amount depends on position and term length
• FREE Health Insurance
• Member Assistance Program: FREE access to confidential behavioral health counseling, financial assistance, medical/legal advocacy, and more 
• Supportive coaching staff invested in your success
• Food per diem while on projects
• Pro Deals
• Housing/Camping options may be available in specific regions

Check out the Greater Yellowstone Regional Office page for more information on our Southern Branch location

Check out the Northern Rockies Regional Office page for more information on our Northern Branch location

Youth Crew Leader Positions are full for 2025, Get notified for 2026!

Here is what you can expect during a season of leading Montana youth:

Day in the Life - Expedition Crews

Gear List - Youth Leaders

What is AmeriCorps?

Benefits of Service

How your service makes an impact

Support we provide