Student Conservation Corps

Student Conservation Corps (SCoCo) is a paid Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District employment opportunity enhanced with conservation education for local High School age students. SCoCo brings the energy and passion of youth to local environmental work through three program components:

1. A series of spring Application Work Parties
2. Three paid summer sessions
3. Fall volunteer restoration work parties

The employment SCoCo provides to youth in our community develops a new generation of environmental stewards while making progress in the battle against noxious weeds in Bainbridge Island parks. SCoCo members work to control invasive plant species in our island’s parks and protected open spaces, achieving goals outlined in the Park District’s Invasive Plant Management Plan. During the three summer sessions, local educational speakers provide conservation education and career advice to SCoCo members during their lunch hour.

For more information, please get in touch with Program Manager Morgan Houk at morganhouk@biparks.org.

New! Neurodiverse SCoCo

Neurodiverse Student Conservation Corps provides neurodivergent high school-age young adults (15-21) with an employment learning opportunity, incorporating outdoor education and hands-on learning in conservation work in Bainbridge Island parks. An expansion of our popular Student Conservation Corps Program, Neurodiverse Student Conservation Corps serves a need identified for a supportive environment where neurodivergent young adults can learn job skills necessary to pursue career and educational opportunities in conservation after high school.

Eight neurodivergent young adults and eight peer mentors learn from Park District staff during a 12-day summer session in 2024, while completing conservation projects in Bainbridge Island parks, like removing invasive species, mulching native plants, or maintaining trails. Lunchtime speakers from the community share career advice with crews.

The goal of Neurodiverse Student Conservation Corps is to link hands-on outdoor education with job training for neurodivergent teens. Teens will leave Neurodiverse Student Conservation Corps with applicable job skills, greater social and emotional skills, and a deeper understanding of careers in their community in natural resources and conservation.

We are thankful for funding support from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, administered through the Outdoor Learning Grant through the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

If you know a teen who is interested in working with us this summer, please contact Adaptive & Accessibility Coordinator, Cody Ogren at codyogren@biparks.org