Founded:
The Maine Conservation Corps was established by Maine's governor and legislature in 1983 and since then has recruited and placed hundreds of members who have accomplished countless natural resource projects all over Maine.
Mission:
According to our statute, the mission of the Maine Conservation Corps is to:
Accomplish outdoor recreation and conservation projects: This is the primary focus of all MCC programs. Members build and rehabilitate campsites and trails (more non-motorized trails than any other organization in Maine), build outdoor learning centers for schools, construct cabins, picnic shelters, bridges and erosion control structures, maintain boundaries, improve wildlife habitat and timber stands, survey watersheds, test water quality, and oversee planting projects.
Conservation education: MCC strives to raise awareness and interest in the natural environment. Individual members serving with nonprofit organizations and natural resource agencies develop curriculum, train teachers, teach in classrooms, and do outreach presentations in the community.
Volunteer opportunities: The MCC recruits volunteers to serve alongside MCC teams and individual members at projects all over the state. Volunteers can join the MCC on the trail, in the classroom, or on the water to get involved in local efforts to protect and restore the environment.
Benefits to participants: MCC programs develop a strong work and community service ethic, teamwork, communication skills, self-esteem and confidence, safety, job skills and outdoor living experiences. Members receive a living allowance, health insurance, and opportunities for networking and gaining experience in environmental careers. Some members are eligible to earn an AmeriCorps education award.
Collections:
The MCC holds field team member photographs from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000 to present, including photographs from trail sites, slides, newspapers clippings and some letters to the MCC.
The organization also holds historical photographs and letters from Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) team members who served in Maine in the 1930s and 1940s. There is also a large collection of handwritten letters from the 1990s from CCC members reflecting on their CCC service experiences.
Activities:
View MCC website