Student Conservation Corps

 

The 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.

SCoCo is Hiring!

Applications are now open for 2023 summer sessions. Applicants must be 15 years old to apply. Contact Volunteer Program Manager Morgan Houk at morganhouk@biparks.org for more information.

Register for Work Parties Here

Applicants are welcome to apply for one or all of the 2023 SCoCo sessions. Applicants may be accepted for some or all of the sessions applied to. A waitlist will be maintained for all sessions.

Application Work Parties
  • Saturday, March 11, 1:00-3:00p 
  • Friday, April 28, 4:00-6:00p 
  • Friday, May 12, 4:00-6:00p 
  • Saturday, May 13, 1:00-3:00p 

Location: Sakai Park, 1560 Madison Ave N

  • All applicants must attend at least one (1) application work party in order to apply.
  • If you can absolutely not attend one of these scheduled events, please reach out to Program Manager Morgan Houk at morganhouk@biparks.org. We MAY be able to find another volunteer opportunity for you to attend.
  • Participants MUST register for each work party. Register online here.
  • If you are under 18, you and your parent/guardian must complete either a paper or digital copy of the Parent Authorization Form. You will be prompted to complete this form when you register for an account in our volunteer software, or you can bring a hard copy to the work party. The SCoCo Program Manager may reject any form that is not properly completed. There are absolutely NO exceptions.
  • Participants are required to follow all COVID-19 safety procedures as communicated by staff. Failure to do so may result in the participant being asked to leave the work party and being ineligible to apply to SCoCo.
    Summer Session A
    • June 26-July 13
    • July 3 and 4 off for the 4th of July holiday
    • 9:30a-2:30p
    • Open to 16 participants
    • Multiple park locations across Bainbridge Island
    Summer Session B
    • July 17-August 2
    • 9:30a-2:30p
    • Open to 16 participants
    • Multiple park locations across Bainbridge Island
    Summer Session C
    • August 7-23
    • 9:30a-2:30p
    • Open to 16 participants
    • Multiple park locations across Bainbridge Island

     

    Fall Work Parties

    Locations and times are to be determined.  More information will be available later in the summer.

    Salary Information

    SCoCo members will be paid $16.68/hour. One hour of unpaid lunch time is dedicated to conservation education during the summer sessions. SCoCo members are expected to stay on-site to participate.

    Student Conservation Corps is open to individuals ages 15-18 who want to work hard in a group setting to make a difference in our local environment.

    Please note current Park District policies require that all new employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (per the CDC’s current definition of “fully vaccinated”). You will be required to provide proof of vaccination before beginning employment.

    Applicants must complete the following before the application deadline for either (or both) spring break and summer sessions.

    1. Application Work Party — Register here.  Attend one Application Work Party. See session details for Application Work Party dates.
    2. Park District Application — After attending an Application Work Party, applicants must submit a Park District Employment Application by the due date.
    3. SCoCo Supplemental Application — After attending a work party, applicants will be emailed a link to a supplemental SCoCo application that must be submitted along with the BIMPRD Employment Application by the application due date.

    The Park District Application and the SCOCO Supplemental Application should be emailed to SCoCo Program Manager Morgan Houk at morganhouk@biparks.org. PDF attachments are preferred.

    Summer Sessions

    Applications Open – March 2023

    Application Work Parties:

    • Saturday, March 11, 1:00-3:00p 
    • Friday, April 28, 4:00-6:00p 
    • Friday, May 12, 4:00-6:00p 
    • Saturday, May 13, 1:00-3:00p 

    Applications Due – Sunday, May 21, by 11:59p.
    Applicants Notified – Tuesday, May 30