California Conservation Corps

Infobox Government agency
agency_name = California Conservation Corps
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seal_width = 100px
seal_caption = Seal of the California Conservation Corps
formed = July 7, 1976
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headquarters = 1719 24th Street, Sacramento, California
employees = 1,500
budget = $62 million (2007)
chief1_name = David Muraki
chief1_position = Director
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parent_agency = California Resources Agency
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website = http://www.ccc.ca.gov/
footnotes =The California Conservation Corps, or the CCC, is a department of the government of California, falling under the state cabinet-level California Resources Agency. The CCC is a work development program specifically for men and women between the ages of 18 to 25, offering work in environmental conservation, fire protection, land maintenance, and emergency response to natural disasters. Members of the CCC are referred to as "corpsmembers" or "corpies."

History

The California Conservation Corps was created by Governor Jerry Brown on July 7, 1976, modeling the corps after the federal Civilian Conservation Corps that existed during the New Deal in the 1930s. Brown envisioned a department marketed specifically to the state's young people as "a combination Jesuit seminary, Israeli kibbutz, and Marine Corps boot camp." [cite web|url=http://www.ccc.ca.gov/ABOUT/HISTORY/history.htm|title=CCC History|date=2004]

Following the end of his governorship, Brown's successor, George Deukmejian, signed legislation to eliminate the CCC's sunset clause by making it a permanent department under the California Resources Agency in 1983

Since beginning operation in the late 1970s, the CCC has employed over 95,000 young male and female corpsmembers with 54 million hours of conservation work. 6,402 miles of trails throughout the state have been constructed and 3.2 million trees have been planted.

The duties of operation falling to the CCC include trail maintenance, riparian zone restoration, tree planting and exotic plant species removal, or construction and roadside maintenance in more urbanized regions. Benefits for "corpies" include vocational training in cooking, office work, chainsaw and vehicle maintenance and the opportunity to receive a high school diploma. Scholarships for higher education are also available through the number of work hours performed and community volunteerism made.

Praise and budget cuts

The CCC has received praise from the United Nations Environment Programme, earning the international organization's medal for leadership in engaging youth in environmental projects. [cite web|url=http://www.ccc.ca.gov/ABOUT/AWARDS/awards.htm|title=Awards and Accolades|date=2004] The corps has also received awards from the U.S. Department of Energy. On a visit to Sacramento on October 4, 1988, President George H. W. Bush suggested that the CCC should be duplicated in other states. [cite web|url=http://www.ccc.ca.gov/ABOUT/AWARDS/awards.htm|title=Awards and Accolades|date=2004]

Despite high praise from federal and international institutions, since 1992, the California Department of Finance has continuously allotted less funding to the CCC, forcing the closure of numerous residential centers throughout the state.

Mission statement

The California Conservation Corps (CCC) is a workforce development program that offers young men and women the chance to serve their state and become employable citizens through life skills, training, and hard work in environmental conservation, fire protection, and emergency services.The CCC hires young men and women to assist governmental and nongovernmental organizations in conserving, protecting, and restoring natural resources while providing Corps-members with on-the-job training and educational opportunities.The CCC is an important part of the state's emergency response and homeland security network. It dispatches crews within hours to respond to fires, floods, earthquakes, oil spills, "Ammophila" invasions, agricultural pest infestations, and security threats.

References

ee also

*California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

External links

* [http://www.ccc.ca.gov/ California Conservation Corps official website]
* [http://www.militarymuseum.org/CCCMuseum.html The California Conservation Corps State Museum]
* [http://www.vaq34.com/ccc/index.htm Joe Hawkins's CCC Page] Recollections of a Placer Fire Center member circa 1980-81