Students in the field of rocks

Program Overview

The Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) is a new program introduced by the Department of Interior (DOI) 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, expand educational opportunities 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. These goals are intended to be fulfilled by executing maintenance, research, recreation and education projects on eligible service lands and through the promotion of Indian self-determination and economic development. The IYSC aims to focus on bringing participants together in their shared cultures, histories and stories in an effort to protect and conserve them for future generations.

 

Two interns work on rocks with yellow helmets.

FAQs 

What is the Indian Youth Service Corps?

The 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 Bureau of Land Management?

No. All employment is through approved Corps Network partner organizations. However, you will be mentored by Bureau of Land Management employee on Bureau of Land Management sites.

What are the benefits for Native youth who participate?

Participating Native American youth will receive hands-on training opportunities in natural and cultural 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 after completing a minimum of 640 hours of service on a PLC/IYSC project in addition to any other service requirements. Participants can utilize the PLC hiring authority to apply 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 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.

To be eligible for Individual Placement Internship (Resource Assistant) selection, individuals must be at least 17 years of age, be enrolled in an institution of higher education or be a recent graduate from an institution of higher education.

How to Get Involved

To begin your search for current partnering youth corps, please visit corpsnetwork.org for all available opportunities.

For additional information about Youth Engagement Programs, IYSC, or Public Land Corps/Civilian Climate Corps, contact Michael Brown, National Youth Programs Lead (m55brown@blm.gov).