FSYCBurnBreak

Purpose

The Forest Stewards Youth Corps (FSYC) program develops the next generation of skilled workers, educated and active citizens, and future community leaders.


The mission of the FSYC is to provide training, education, and employment in natural resource management fields for 16-25 year olds from forest dependent communities in New Mexico. FSYC supports high school aged youth with our summer program and 18-25 year olds with the fall Fire & Fuels program.

Goals

We put the forest first for the long haul, so we help build the next generation of responsible forest stewards. Its a youth - environment partnership that helps everyone win. Our goal is to provide:


  1. service,
  2. training,
  3. education and
  4. employment opportunities


for young Americans, while they preserve, protect, and promote America’s greatest gift - our public lands.


The Forest Stewards Youth Corps changes lives by providing critical opportunities and life skills to youth in rural communities who are just entering the work force. We also change lives through the program's work toward sustainable, resilient, healthy forests, and safer communities.

FSCYSkills
FSYCBurnBreak

Benefits of participation

The Forest Stewards Guild is a member of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), a national youth and veteran service program. Alumni of the FSYC qualify for 21CSC benefits.


If you have completed 640 hours of appropriate conservation corps projects on public lands (the equivalent of at least two full FSYC work seasons) and are between the ages of 16-30, you are eligible for the Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority (PLCHA) two year non-competitive hiring status for land management positions.


For more information, please refer to the 21CSC Guidelines and PLC Hours Verification Form.

Impacts / Results

0
youth have been employed
0
hours of college credit awarded
0
hours of college credit achieved

Forest Stewards Youth Corps accomplishments

Since it's inception, the FSYC program has:


  1. employed over 700 youth,
  2. achieved 300,000 hours of conservation service and education (similar to 8 full time employees per year),
  3. awarded over 200 hours of college credit, and
  4. invested over $7 million in rural New Mexico communities.


Corps members have gone on to build successful careers in natural resource management and become strong leaders in their communities.

FSYC summer session

FSYC Fire and Fuels Crew

Screenshot 2025-04-30 at

Manny Lopez - Mountainair Crew Lead

“I would have to say that the biggest lesson that I learned is just the importance of forest management and just the way that the forest works.”

2023 Guild staff - Wildland Fire Chainsaw instructor

" As a first-time instructor, it was amazing to see my knowledge transfer to the students and to watch their skills and confidence with the saw grow. I watched them overcome fear and nervousness from one day to the next, and they were confidently bucking, limbing, and felling trees by the end of training. It was an empowering week for all of us!"

Naelly Terrazas - Las Vegas Crew Member

“As someone who is working towards becoming a wildlife biologist, FSYC is great way for me to get outside and spend time in nature and around wildlife.”

Sam Berry - Southwest Guild Staff - Summer 2024

“We like to expose folks to all different programs, from archeology to forest management to wildfire and prescribed fire, so they see the breadth of things they could undertake if they want to get into this field.”

Program contacts

For more information, please contact Sam or Eytan at:


541-816-6371 or sam@forestguild.org
505-983-8992 ext.16 or eytan@forestguild.org

Stay Informed

about our recent projects and upcoming events.