Here's an opportunity for Boulder County's youth to green their community and get paid for doing it. The Community Forestry Corps (CFC) is on the lookout for teens and adults interested in environmental work specifically, planting and tending to trees in local parks, schools, and neighborhoods throughout Boulder. Teens aged 14 to 17 are encouraged to apply for Corps Member positions, while adults 18 and up can snag leadership roles.
The CFC is a collaborative effort between the PLAY Boulder Foundation, the City of Boulder, and Boulder County, and is supported by Lafayette, and Louisville. Furnishing more than just a paycheck, the program aims to equip participants with teamwork skills, leadership expertise, and hands-on environmental problem-solving experience. Angie Jeffords, executive director of the PLAY Boulder Foundation, as per the City of Boulder, stated, "This work is hands-on, engaging, and immediately rewarding."
CFC is no stranger to recognition. Picking up from its 2024 pilot's success, the initiative draws inspiration from historic youth programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and the National Civilian Community Corps of the 1990s. "Decades from now, these trees will still be standing—shading streets, cooling neighborhoods, and honoring the young people whose hard work made their community stronger," said Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann, as obtained by the City of Boulder.
On the practical side, the CFC details various positions and their respective wages. Corps Members, aged 14 to 17, can earn $16 to $16.40 an hour for a 30-hour workweek. Assistant Team Leaders, 18 or older, can rake in $20.20 to $20.70 an hour on a full-time schedule. And for those eligible for Team Lead roles, a wage of $22.44 to $23 an hour awaits. Training for leadership positions gets underway on June 2, while the core program for all members kicks off on June 16 and presses on through early August. For all the specifics on positions, pay rates, and application deadlines head to the city's announcement.
Lastly, City of Boulder City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde emphasized the initiative's impact. The CFC not only delivers environmental benefits to areas grappling with heat and flooding but also instills participants with valuable experiences.
