Indian Youth Service Corps

Duration:

4 minutes, 12 seconds

The Indian Youth Service Corps is a new DOI program. As a part of the TTAP, the Historic Preservation Training Center is excited to offer an Indian Youth Service Corps component to its program to provide indigenous youth quality hands-on experience in the preservation and maintenance of historic resources of cultural importance to indigenous peoples on National Park Service sites. To hear more about the success of the program, we interviewed the staff who hired and hosted the two inaugural crews.

NPS / Kristi Rugg

Program Overview

The Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) is a new Department of Interior (DOI) program within the Public Land Corps initiative to provide opportunities for Native American youth to engage in public service, perform meaningful conservation projects on federal and Tribal lands, and stimulate interest in conservation-related careers. The IYSC is designed to be a collaborative program that provides shared benefits to program participants, tribes, federal and tribal land partners, and to the general public.

The Historic Preservation Training Center’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) is excited to offer an IYSC component to its program to provide indigenous youth quality hands-on experience in the preservation and maintenance of historic resources of cultural importance to indigenous peoples on National Park Service sites.

How to Apply

Upcoming IYSC-TTAP positions will be posted on this webpage as individual placement opportunities National Park Service sites become available. If no positions are listed below, be sure to check back soon for updates!

FAQs

What is the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC)?

IYSC is a new DOI program within the Public Lands Corps (PLC) to establish conservation crews to carry out appropriate conservation programs on eligible service lands. It offers tribes and other partner organizations the opportunity to enter into agreements with the DOI for the benefit of Native American youth.  

Is this a federal job with the National Park Service? 

No. While you will be mentored by National Park Service employee on National Park Service sites, you will be employed by one of our approved Corps Network partner organizations.

What are the benefits for Native youth who participate?

Participating Native American youth will receive hands-on training opportunities in historic preservation and conservation while earning a stipend, living allowance, and/or wage. One of the goals of the program is to support a generation of Native American youth in gaining marketable skill sets in the historic preservation and conservation career fields.   

For participants interested in pursuing a career in federal service, IYSC can help pave the path toward a federal government career through the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority. Program participants are eligible to receive and use the PLC noncompetitive hiring authority when applying for eligible federal jobs within two years of completing program requirements.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Under the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps initiative, young adults participating in IYSC-TTAP must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years to participate. Veterans qualify up to the age of 35 years of age and must possess a DD214 with a discharge status of Honorable or General under Honorable Conditions.

Testimonials

Hear more from participants of the Indian Youth Service Corps Program!

Duration:

1 minute, 13 seconds

David Landavazo is one of the inaugural participants in the Indian Youth Service Corps with the Traditional Trades Advancement Program. He talks about the program and his work at Tuzigoot National Monument.

Duration:

1 minute, 23 seconds

Massai Leon is one of the inaugural participants in the Indian Youth Service Corps with the Traditional Trades Advancement Program. He talks about the program and his work at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.

Duration:

3 minutes, 3 seconds

Precious Vicente is one of the inaugural participants in the Indian Youth Service Corps with the Traditional Trades Advancement Program. She talks about the program and her work at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.

Duration:

1 minute, 25 seconds

Trestan Sekakuku is one of the inaugural participants in the Indian Youth Service Corps with the Traditional Trades Advancement Program. He talks about the program and his work at Tuzigoot National Monument.

More information

For more information, visit the Traditional Trades Advancement Program page.

Contact

Questions? Contact our team at [e-mail] for TTAP IYSC questions, and contact the National Park Service Youth Programs Division for general NPS IYSC questions.

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