Vermont Youth Conservation Corps

What Vermont Youth Conservation Corps does

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 and headquartered on a 400-acre campus in Richmond, Vermont. The organization runs paid outdoor service programs for young people ages 15 and older, engaging 170-200 paid participants and approximately 200 volunteers annually to deliver 80,000+ service hours across 50+ conservation and agriculture projects each year. Its work spans trail building (Green Mountain Club, Vermont Land Trust, state and federal partners), forest health management (including USFS A-Sawyer certified crews restoring clayplain forests along Lake Champlain), water quality improvement (erosion mitigation, rain gardens, riparian plantings), and organic sustainable agriculture on its production fields.

VYCC's core product is the Conservation Crew program, complemented by its Food & Farm program — anchored by the Health Care Share, which delivers 75,000+ pounds of certified organic produce annually to 450+ Vermont households via prescription from healthcare partners including Central Vermont Medical Center, North Country Hospital, and VA Clinics. The Health Care Share is the largest prescription vegetable program in Vermont. Retail revenue is generated through a seasonal farm stand (June–October), Farm Share cards ($50-$500 denominations with bonus value), and 22-week winter egg CSAs. Capacity is being expanded through restoration of the historic East Monitor Barn into 20,000 square feet of year-round program space, with a fundraising Barn-Raiser event scheduled for July 9, 2026.

VYCC operates a hybrid funding model rather than a traditional commercial revenue model. Income streams include individual and corporate philanthropy, AmeriCorps and SerVermont federal and state service funding (VYCC has been an AmeriCorps site since 1995), project partner cost-share (approximately one third of crew operating costs), corporate event sponsorships (Harvest Dinner, Open Farm Week), and direct farm sales. The organization is governed by an independent board chaired by Wendy Nunez (Champlain Investment Partners), holds Corps Network Center of Excellence accreditation and 21st Century Conservation Service Corps endorsement, and has received two Corps Network Project of the Year awards (2014, 2018) plus two US Forest Service National Honor Awards (2014, 2017). Since inception, VYCC has served 7,096 participants and paid out $22,641,795 in participant wages.

Name

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps

Legal name

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps

Website

https://vycc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that runs paid outdoor service programs for Vermont youth ages 15+, delivering trail building, forest health, water quality, and organic farming projects on a 400-acre Richmond campus, including the Health Care Share food-prescription program serving 450+ households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainability Engagement, Training & Behavior Change Programs (On-site) (BPABALAK)

Keywords

• Youth conservation programs
• Conservation service corps
• Community supported agriculture
• Organic farm education
• AmeriCorps service programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropy and Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting youth development, conservation, and food security programs.
2. Farm Stand and CSA Sales: Direct sales of organic vegetables, eggs, chickens, and prepared foods through farm stand and Farm Share card program.
3. AmeriCorps and Public Funding: AmeriCorps service positions funded through federal Corporation for National and Community Service, SerVermont state office, and public sources investing in educational outcomes.
4. Project Partner Funding: Project partners cover approximately one third of costs to operate and support crews for conservation and farm projects.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Business partnerships and sponsorships supporting specific events, programs, or projects including Open Farm Week, Harvest Dinner, and career fairs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

VYCC delivers paid outdoor service experiences for youth ages 15+ through Conservation Crew programs (trail building, forest health, water quality, habitat restoration) and a Food & Farm program that includes the Health Care Share produce-prescription initiative, a seasonal Farm Stand, Farm Share cards, and Egg Shares. Corps Members earn stipends, AmeriCorps Segal Education Awards, and industry certifications while completing projects for public land partners, healthcare systems, and food-security programs across Vermont.

Product overview

Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization offering paid outdoor service experiences for young people ages 15+. The organization operates Conservation Crew Programs focused on trail building, forest health, water quality, and erosion mitigation projects across Vermont. Its Food & Farm Program includes the Health Care Share initiative delivering organic produce to families via healthcare prescriptions, a seasonal Farm Stand, and Farm Share cards. The East Monitor Barn restoration project will expand campus facilities to 20,000 square feet of year-round program space. AmeriCorps service positions provide stipends and education awards. The organization engages 170-200 paid participants annually across 50+ conservation projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conservation Crew Programs Paid outdoor service experiences for Corps Members ages 15+ focused on trail building, forest health, water quality improvement, erosion mitigation, and outdoor recreation infrastructure projects for public land management partners across Vermont.
• Health Care Share Program connecting Vermont families with weekly shares of certified organic produce via prescription from healthcare providers, serving households experiencing food insecurity or diet-related illness through medical center, hospital, clinic, and VA partner referrals.
• Farm Stand On-campus farm stand open daily 10am-6pm from June through October, selling certified organic vegetables, herbs, flowers, pasture-raised chickens, eggs, and frozen prepared foods to local consumers.
• Forest Health Crews Specialized conservation crews that fell trees, open canopies, remove invasive plants, and plant native trees and shrubs to restore forest health on Vermont conservation and private landowner lands, with Game of Logging chainsaw certification and US Forest Service A-Sawyer certification available.
• AmeriCorps Service Positions AmeriCorps service positions with terms ranging from 300 to 1,700 service hours, providing stipends and Segal Education Awards upon completion for the educational and professional development of Corps Members.
• Farm Share Cards Pre-paid Farm Stand cards available in $50, $200, $400, and $500 denominations with 10-15% bonus value, redeemable for vegetables, eggs, meat, flowers, and VYCC swag, with options including the Health Care Share newsletter and bulk purchasing access.
• Egg Shares Subscription-based weekly egg CSA offering free-range eggs through a 22-week winter season (December through April) with weekly pickup at the West Monitor Barn in Richmond, Vermont, available in 1 dozen/week and 2 dozen/week share sizes.
• East Monitor Barn Historic 1901 barn being restored to provide 20,000 square feet of year-round program space on VYCC's 400-acre campus for conservation training, agricultural education, food production, and workforce development serving Vermont youth and communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80,000+ service hours completed annually across 50+ projects
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal national service program providing paid service positions. VYCC has been an AmeriCorps service site since 1995, offering positions from 300 to 1,700 service hours with Segal Education Award upon completion.
• SerVermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState AmeriCorps office partnering with VYCC to provide paid service positions for Vermont youth.
• The Corps NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUmbrella association for 130 youth corps organizations. VYCC maintains accreditation from Corps Network's Center of Excellence and endorsement as 21st Century Conservation Service Corps.
• Central Vermont Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding healthcare partner of Health Care Share program. Identifies patients who would benefit from no-cost farm-fresh produce and refers them to VYCC's food distribution.
• Green Mountain ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Burrows Trail restoration at Camels Hump State Park. VYCC crews worked with Northwoods Stewardship Center to rebuild the trail from the top down.
• Vermont Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on water quality projects including Brewster Uplands in Cambridge. Partner on land conservation and management.
• Women Owning WoodlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner enabling VYCC Forest Health Crews to work on private landowner properties for clayplain forest restoration along Lake Champlain.
• Vermont Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHolds conservation easement on VYCC's 400-acre campus alongside Richmond Land Trust, Preservation Trust of Vermont, and Vermont Housing Conservation Board.
• Audubon VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner and sponsor of 900-foot boardwalk project in West Rutland Marsh, protecting breeding habitat for rare and priority birds.
• Vermont Huts AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Grout Pond hut build - VYCC's first backcountry hut construction in partnership for 4-season off-grid accommodation along Catamount Trail.
• US Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing funding and support for forest health projects. VYCC crews earn USFS A-Sawyer certification through their work.
• Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on water quality project in Highgate. VYCC Water Quality crew completed rain garden, check dams, and 730 plantings to reduce erosion into Missisquoi River.
• Pine Hill PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Pine Hill Park mountain bike trail construction in Rutland. VYCC crew built Maximum Capacity trail.
• Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal host department when VYCC was established in 1985. Ongoing partnership for state parks projects and conservation work.
• Cold Hollow to CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner for forestry work in northern Vermont. VYCC Year-Round Crew Leaders partnered on patch cuts and crop release projects.
• Vermont Agency of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on National Life Trail project and other transportation-related conservation projects.
• Vermont Works for WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing construction and weatherization credentials for VYCC alumni.
• ReSOURCEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing job training and employment opportunities for VYCC alumni.
• Community College of VermontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in youth development and educational pathways for Corps Members.
• Vermont Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in educational and career pathway programs for Corps Members.
• King Arthur FlourminorOthersLocal business donating value-added products (flour) to Health Care Share program.
• Cabot CheeseminorOthersLocal business donating value-added products to Health Care Share program.
• Green Mountain EvaluationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SerVermont to conduct in-depth evaluation of Health Care Share program processes and outcomes.
• National Life GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont's third largest private employer. Partner on National Life Trail connecting office complex to downtown Montpelier.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• AmeriCorps: Federal agency funding VYCC's service positions since 1995. Functions as a critical upstream funding and infrastructure partner — not a peer in the competitive sense, but the structural enabler of VYCC's entire AmeriCorps crew pipeline.
• The Corps Network: National umbrella association of 130+ youth and adult conservation corps. VYCC holds accreditation through The Corps Network's Center of Excellence and operates within its '21st Century Conservation Service Corps' framework, making it a structural ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Wholesome Wave: National nonprofit that pioneered the produce-prescription ('FVRx') model that VYCC's Health Care Share adapts. Functions as an ecosystem enabler/thematically adjacent peer for VYCC's food-as-medicine program rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Montana Conservation Corps: Statewide youth conservation corps employing 15+ year-olds on conservation, trails, and disaster-response projects. Operates a near-identical AmeriCorps-affiliated crew model with seasonal and year-round positions, making it the closest direct comparable to VYCC.
• Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA): Alaska-based AmeriCorps youth corps running conservation and youth development crews. VYCC board member Debbie Archer previously served as a Youth Crew Leader (AmeriCorps) at SAGA, confirming a directly comparable mission and structure.
• Conservation Corps North Carolina: NC youth conservation corps running AmeriCorps crews on trails, environmental restoration, and disaster response. VYCC board member Mallory James currently works there as Program Coordinator, demonstrating direct operational similarity.
• Northwest Youth Corps: Idaho/Oregon-based youth conservation corps with an AmeriCorps crew model serving ages 14+ on trails, forestry, and habitat projects. Listed as a prior employer of VYCC board member Mallory James, confirming direct model alignment.
• Minnesota Conservation Corps: Minnesota-based AmeriCorps-affiliated conservation corps providing crew-based service opportunities for youth on natural resource projects. Operates a structurally similar paid-crew conservation service model across multiple program terms.
• Arizona Conservation Corps: Arizona-based AmeriCorps youth conservation corps under the Conservation Legacy umbrella. Listed on VYCC board member Paul Schmidt's resume as a prior leadership role, indicating directly comparable crew-based conservation service model.

Broad incumbents

• California Conservation Corps: California state agency running a much larger conservation corps program with thousands of members annually. Operates the same AmeriCorps-integrated youth conservation model at significantly greater scale and with state-government backing, positioning it as the dominant incumbent in the category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/VermontYouth
• Facebookfacebook.com/thevycc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/202213
• Instagraminstagram.com/thevycc
• Xx.com/thevycc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Youth Conservation Corps