California Conservation Corps
Encyclopedia
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."
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
, Israel
i kibbutz
, and Marine Corps boot camp." The CCC replaced the California Ecology Corps that was created by Governor Ronald Reagan
in 1971 as an "alternative service" option for Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War
.
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.
, earning the international organization's medal for leadership in engaging youth in environmental projects. 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.
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.
Government of California
The government of California operates in the context of a democratic republic with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the California State Legislature which...
, falling under the state cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
-level California Resources Agency
California Resources Agency
The California Natural Resources Agency is a state cabinet-level agency in the government of California. The institution and jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Agency is provided for in California Government Code sections 12800 and 12805, et seq...
. 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 GovernorGovernor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
on July 7, 1976, modeling the corps after the federal Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
that existed during the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
in the 1930s. Brown envisioned a department marketed specifically to the state's young people as "a combination Jesuit seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
, and Marine Corps boot camp." The CCC replaced the California Ecology Corps that was created by Governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1971 as an "alternative service" option for Conscientious Objectors during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Following the end of his governorship, Brown's successor, George Deukmejian
George Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
, signed legislation to eliminate the CCC's sunset clause by making it a permanent department under the California Resources Agency
California Resources Agency
The California Natural Resources Agency is a state cabinet-level agency in the government of California. The institution and jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Agency is provided for in California Government Code sections 12800 and 12805, et seq...
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
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
. 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 ProgrammeUnited Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
, earning the international organization's medal for leadership in engaging youth in environmental projects. The corps has also received awards from the U.S. Department of Energy. On a visit to Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
on October 4, 1988, President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
suggested that the CCC should be duplicated in other states.
Despite high praise from federal and international institutions, since 1992, the California Department of Finance
California Department of Finance
The California Department of Finance is a state cabinet-level agency within the government of California. The Department of Finance is responsible for preparing, explaining, and administering the state’s annual financial plan, which the Governor of California is required under the California...
has continuously allotted less funding to the CCC, forcing the closure of numerous residential centers throughout the state.
External links
- California Conservation Corps official website
- The California Conservation Corps State Museum
- Joe Hawkins's CCC Page Recollections of a Placer Fire Center member circa 1980-81