Join the Conservation Corps!

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Build your path to the future!

At Rockland Conservation & Service Corps (RCSC), we believe in the power of young people to change the world! RCSC is a summer internship program that provides members with a wide range of hands-on training and experience, leadership and networking opportunities, and professional development in the environmental field. Come join RCSC for an opportunity to have an adventure with purpose!

Each day our corps is hard at work in the community making a difference. Corps Members are placed at local organizations immersed in a conservation project. While each host site is unique, past projects have included environmental outreach and education, trail building and maintenance in county parks, patrolling local rivers and streams, inspecting and documenting storm drains and outfalls, GIS mapping, and so much more!

Corps members are paid a stipend to perform a variety of outdoor, environmental, community service projects throughout the county. Upon successful completion of service, Corps members receive an education award in the amount of $1,565.08. Rockland County youth ages 18-25 are encouraged to apply today! Click here for the application.

Do something different and discover your potential!

"My summer with the Rockland Service and Conservation Corps was a truly rewarding experience. I had the opportunity to meet new people, build lasting friendships, and gain valuable field skills. After recently graduating with my bachelor’s degree in environmental sustainability, I was actively searching for internship opportunities when I came across the RCSC. I was placed at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, where I had the pleasure of serving alongside the Hudson River Fish Advisory to educate the public about the dangers of consuming fish and crabs from the Hudson River due to harmful chemicals known as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). My role involved distributing educational materials, tabling at local events, and promoting environmental awareness to support better public health for everyone. One of my favorite aspects of the program was participating in Friday Projects with my cohort spending a full day on environmental conservation. It was an incredible experience serving alongside others who were passionate about improving our environments and communities, all while having fun and learning together. This program also played a major role in helping me secure my full-time position as a Watershed Ambassador for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The networking opportunities and professional connections you gain through RCSC are invaluable and can benefit you long after the program ends. If you’re considering spending a summer with RCSC, I highly encourage you to do so, you won’t regret it!"

- Jason Peralta 2025 Member

"Growing up I loved going on hikes and being at the beach, both gave me a great appreciation for the environment. This led me to deciding that I wanted to pursue a career in environmental science. The Rockland Conservation and Service Corps allowed me to experience firsthand what this field could pertain. During my summer with the RCSC I was taught a variety of skills which allowed me to give back to the community through our Friday projects and my time at Bear Mountain. Being placed at the Bear Mountain site, my fellow interns and I got to do valuable work restoring damaged trails. I was taught how to use a variety of tools and the methods used to make and maintain the hiking trails that are used by thousands of people every year. During my time in the Corps my eyes were opened to the many different career paths in the environmental field, and I got to meet people who are just as passionate about the environment as I am. If you’re someone who loves the outdoors and wants to give back to the community, I can’t recommend a better opportunity than the Rockland Conservation and Service Corps."

- Giovanni Carrero 2024 Member

"During the summer of 2021, I joined the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Next Generation of Hudson River Educators Internship where I learned about the diverse wildlife within the Hudson River through hands-on field research that further strengthened my passion for the environment. During the internship, I was mentored by two Rockland Conservation and Service Corp (RCSC) members, whose hard work inspired me to join RCSC in the summer of 2023. I was assigned to Lamont-Doherty, mentoring a group of high school students, and teaching for the program that once shaped my love for Environmental Science was a rewarding full circle, “aha” moment. The diverse experiences that RCSC provided around Rockland County from our initial training, doing activities such as trail building, checking water and soil quality, and identifying fish species in the Hudson River to our Friday Service Projects helped me gain a deeper connection with my community, and exposed me to the different job opportunities available in the environmental field. Working alongside a group of passionate people with similar environmental interests made working in the outdoors truly a fun experience. With the many connections I made throughout the summer, I have a team of people that will help support and guide me in finding careers in the environmental field. Anyone who is interested in spending their summer with a great group of people doing work that’s fulfilling and beneficial towards their community should definitely spend it with the Rockland Conservation and Service Corp!"

- Arianna Smith 2023 Member

"From a young age, I had a passion for the environment. In fact, my younger self would be so proud to know that I am majoring in environmental science. Although I enjoy my college classes, they never gave me a strong vision of my career in the field. From a summer with the Corps, I learned about the various career paths within the environmental field. Whether it was consulting, research, conservation, or food sustainability, I was able to meet and chat with numerous people who worked in the field. Personally, I loved the environmental work I did at my site, as well as our Friday community service projects. I felt fulfilled giving back to the community that gave me opportunities for my career. Besides networking, the Corps gave me something irreplaceable: support. I will never forget how much this impacted me starting my career. From all my experiences with the Corps, I have gained direction within my field, and I have met amazing people along the way."

- Sophia Martinez 2022 Member

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