Conservation Programs

Why did CorpsTHAT develop its own conservation corps?

Many Deaf and hard of hearing youths are born to hearing parents who do not know American Sign Language (ASL) or the Deaf community and, therefore, no ability to communicate with their Deaf child. It can cause lifelong language delays that affect individuals academically, socially, and economically well into adulthood and ultimately impacting their ability to keep a job.

CorpsTHAT Conservation Corps will integrate cultural competencies in job-specific topics such as requesting and interviewing ASL interpreters, how to self-advocate, and what their rights are as Deaf employees. CorpsTHAT believes that it is vital to provide a space and to be able to participate in a crew with full access to their primary language and cultural identity. Hence the establishment of the first Deaf and ASL centralized conservation corps with CorpsTHAT that will connect Deaf and hard of hearing youth to conservation and outdoor career pathways.


CorpsTHAT Conservation Corps operates conservation service projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region that focus on meeting the needs of the natural landscapes while empowering people to cultivate:

- compassion

- responsibility

- grit through community service

- hard work

- and stewardship


Our CorpsTHAT Conservation Corps program is our summer residential program.

For three weeks, mid-June to mid-July, you will work on a crew with seven other youth and two crew leaders. You and your crew will camp in state parks, national parks, forest service parks, and so forth. Depending on the needs of local community and organizations, projects include:

- building and restoring trails;

- removing invasive species and restoring habitats;

- conducting prescribed burns and fighting wildlife;

- preserving historic structures

- reclaiming abandoned lots;

- installing fencing and other park infrastructure;

- planting trees and plants;

- landscaping;

- operating farms and gardens;

- restoring streams;

- and so much more.

Check out our new Summer Youth Program

Interested to hire our youth crew?

CorpsTHAT Conservation Corps provides youth and adults opportunities in the great outdoors in a fun experiential and team-based learning environment that emphasizes personal growth, stewardship, job, and college readiness, and more.

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