Youth Making a Difference

In summer 2026, CEDA wrapped up its sixth year managing the Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps, a youth workforce development program connecting high school students with hands-on conservation and career-building opportunities.

Six crews were based in Grangeville, Kooskia (2), Pierce, Potlatch, and Orofino, engaging six adult crew leads and 26 high school-aged students from rural communities across the region.

Participants earned wages while completing vital public lands stewardship projects, learning from natural resource professionals, and developing valuable collaboration, management, and leadership skills. Together, they contributed 9,491 hours of service to our public lands and communities.

A big thank-you to our partners—the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, Idaho Firewise, and Nez Perce Tribe—for helping make this program possible.