What WisCorps does

WisCorps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation corps and a division of Central Conservation, headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Founded in 2009, the organization engages young adults ages 18-30 in hands-on environmental stewardship through two core AmeriCorps service programs: a Crew Program that deploys groups across the Upper Midwest for 3+ month rotations on trail construction, habitat restoration, and carpentry projects on public lands, and an Individual Placement Program that places single members at partner sites for longer-term conservation and environmental education roles. Its underlying 'technology' is human field labor supported by industry-standard conservation practices (Leave No Trace ethics, chainsaw/brush saw operation, trail-building techniques) and a structured training stack including a five-week Crew Leader training and a three to four-day Crew Member onboarding, with certifications delivered through NOLS, Forest Safety Instruction, and in-house Leave No Trace Level 2 Trainers.

The organization serves three primary customer segments: young adults seeking conservation career pathways (the participant segment), federal/state/local land management agencies and conservation nonprofits needing seasonal workforce capacity (the partner segment), and schools and youth organizations receiving environmental education programming (the delivery segment). Named flagship partners include the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Leave No Trace, and the Ice Age Trail Alliance, alongside 150+ additional partner organizations. Service areas span Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Minnesota, and broader Upper Midwest federal lands including Voyageurs and Apostle Islands National Lakeshores and Ottawa National Forest.

WisCorps does not operate as a commercial enterprise. Revenue is sourced from AmeriCorps federal grant funding administered through Serve Wisconsin, partner organization project contributions and in-kind support, and individual/organizational donations. Participants are not paying customers; rather, AmeriCorps members receive living stipends (e.g., $300/week for Crew Members, $550/week for Crew Leaders) and earn Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards upon completion. The organization has no disclosed revenue, no external investors, no M&A activity, and no proprietary technology platform or AI capabilities—its competitive position rests on regulatory AmeriCorps status, an entrenched federal/state/nonprofit partner ecosystem, and credentialed training staff.

Name

WisCorps

Legal name

WisCorps, Inc.

Website

https://wiscorps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WisCorps is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit AmeriCorps conservation corps (division of Central Conservation) based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, operating Crew and Individual Placement programs that place young adults ages 18-30 in hands-on trail, habitat, and environmental education projects across the Upper Midwest for federal, state, and nonprofit land management partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Conservation corps services
• Land stewardship programs
• Habitat restoration services
• AmeriCorps service programs
• Environmental education delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

La Crosse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. AmeriCorps Grant Funding: WisCorps operates as an AmeriCorps program and receives federal funding through AmeriCorps grants to support conservation service positions. The organization places AmeriCorps members who receive living stipends and education awards funded by these grants.
2. Partner Organization Contributions: Partner organizations including land management agencies, nonprofits, and conservation organizations provide project funding and in-kind support for conservation crew placements.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit division of Central Conservation, WisCorps accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support participant experiences and conservation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WisCorps is a nonprofit AmeriCorps conservation corps that recruits young adults ages 18-30 and deploys them in structured crew-based and individual placement positions to perform trail construction, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and environmental education on public lands across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. Partner organizations including federal, state, and local land management agencies and conservation nonprofits host crews and individual placements in exchange for project funding and in-kind support.

Product overview

WisCorps is a non-profit conservation corps organization (division of Central Conservation) operating two core AmeriCorps service programs: the Crew Program and the Individual Placement Program. The Crew Program assembles groups of young adults (ages 18-30) who serve together for 3+ months on conservation projects across the Upper Midwest, including trail construction, habitat management, and carpentry work. The Individual Placement Program offers participants opportunities to serve at single partner sites and develop conservation and educator skills. WisCorps provides comprehensive training programs including Crew Leader Training (five-week comprehensive program) and Member Training (three to four-day orientation), with certifications in Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace, and chainsaw operation. The organization also advertises various term positions at partner conservation sites throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crew Program Assembles groups of young adults (ages 18-30) who serve together for 3+ months under WisCorps staff guidance. Crews travel throughout the season across the Upper Midwest on trail construction, habitat management, and carpentry projects on public lands with federal, state, and nonprofit land management partners.
• Individual Placement Program Offers opportunities for participants to serve at a single site and develop conservation and educator skills with support from WisCorps and Placement Site staff. Members are placed at partner conservation and education organizations including land management agencies, nature centers, and sanctuaries.
• Crew Leader Training A comprehensive five-week training program for Crew Leaders at the start of the summer season, including NOLS Wilderness First Aid, Wisconsin Certified Pesticide Applicator Certification, Leave No Trace principles, chainsaw and brush saw use, and additional leadership and trail-building modules.
• Member Training A three-to-four-day training program conducted by WisCorps staff at the start of each season for Crew Members, covering Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace principles, brush saw use, and trail building basics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67 AmeriCorps members engaged in environmental stewardship in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• AmeriCorpscoreOthersAmeriCorps is the federal agency that funds WisCorps through grant programs. WisCorps places AmeriCorps members who receive living stipends and education awards through AmeriCorps.
• Serve WisconsincoreOthersServe Wisconsin is the state service commission that administers AmeriCorps programs in Wisconsin. They partner with WisCorps to support conservation service in the state.
• National Parks ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCorps crews complete trail construction, habitat restoration, and conservation projects on National Park Service lands including Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Isle Royale National Park.
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCorps provides conservation crew support for wildlife refuge projects including habitat restoration and invasive species removal at refuges like Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge.
• U.S. Forest ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCorps crews work on trail maintenance and recreation area management projects in national forests including Ottawa National Forest in Michigan.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCorps partners with WDNR on state park projects including Perrot State Park, supporting trail construction, habitat restoration, and park maintenance.
• Leave No TraceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCorps is an official Leave No Trace Community Partner. The organization trains all crew members in LNT principles and has two Level 2 Trainers on staff who can provide certifications.
• Ice Age Trail AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCorps partners with the Ice Age Trail Alliance for trail maintenance and conservation projects on Wisconsin's Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
• Mississippi Valley ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCorps Individual Placements serve with Mississippi Valley Conservancy on land stewardship, prairie restoration, and community outreach in the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin.
• Upham Woods Outdoor Learning CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUpham Woods Outdoor Learning Center (UW-Madison Extension) hosts WisCorps Individual Placements for environmental education and land stewardship on Blackhawk Island.
• The Ridges SanctuarycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Ridges Sanctuary hosts WisCorps Individual Placements for environmental education, land stewardship, and research assistance including orchid restoration projects.
• Kickapoo Valley Forest SchoolcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWisCorps Individual Placements serve as Forest School Mentors at KVFS, supporting place-based outdoor education for young learners.
• Hunt Hill Nature CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHunt Hill Nature Center hosts WisCorps Individual Placements as Summer Environmental Educators implementing environmental education programs for youth.
• Necedah National Wildlife RefugecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWisCorps Individual Placements serve at Necedah NWR supporting biology programs, wildlife surveys, habitat management, and visitor services.
• Voyageurs National ParkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWisCorps Individual Placements serve as Aquatic Ecology Technicians at Voyageurs National Park, supporting fisheries and aquatic ecology data collection.
• Ottawa National ForestflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWisCorps Individual Placements serve at Ottawa National Forest in various positions including Recreation Assistant, Trail Technician, and Visitor Services roles in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
• Girl Scouts of BadgerlandcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWisCorps Individual Placements serve at Camp Ehawee as Outdoor Education Leaders and Environmental Education Coordinators for Girl Scout programming.
• Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWisCorps Individual Placements support FSPA's land sustainability efforts including invasive species removal, native ecosystem restoration, and environmental education on St. Joseph Ridge near La Crosse.
• Central ConservationcoreOthersWisCorps is a division of Central Conservation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation agency. Central Conservation provides administrative support and oversees multiple conservation programs including WisCorps and The Nature Place.
• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School)coreTechnology or IntegrationNOLS provides wilderness medicine and outdoor leadership training curricula. WisCorps staff obtain Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid certifications through NOLS courses.
• CAMBA Trails (Chequamegon Area Bike Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAMBA Trails partnered with WisCorps on trail projects, and their Board President attended NOLS WFR training alongside WisCorps staff, demonstrating cross-organizational professional development.
• The Nature PlacecoreOthersThe Nature Place is WisCorps' sister division within Central Conservation, providing additional AmeriCorps service opportunities in the La Crosse area.
• Forest Safety Instruction, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationForest Safety Instruction, LLC provides chainsaw safety training to WisCorps crew leaders and staff as part of the comprehensive crew leader training program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Groundwork USA: Federation of local Groundwork trusts engaging youth in environmental and community improvement projects across the U.S.; partial overlap with WisCorps on youth-led stewardship and AmeriCorps-style service.
• National Park Trust: National nonprofit working to preserve parks and engage youth in conservation projects; partial overlap with WisCorps' youth-led conservation model but focused more on advocacy and land acquisition.

Direct peers

• The Corps Network: National membership association of over 130 Service and Conservation Corps including WisCorps' parent sector; directly comparable as the industry association governing the conservation corps model WisCorps operates.
• AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps): Federal AmeriCorps residential program deploying young adults in teams on conservation and community projects across the U.S.; draws from the same participant pool and competes for the same federal partner contracts as WisCorps.
• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit conservation corps placing young adults on public lands for conservation service; operates AmeriCorps programs at a much larger national scale, directly comparable to WisCorps' Crew and Individual Placement model.
• American Conservation Experience (Conservation Legacy): Conservation Legacy operates ACE and other AmeriCorps conservation corps programs that place young adults in habitat restoration, trail construction, and stewardship projects — directly overlapping with WisCorps' service offerings and federal partner relationships.

Regional players

• EarthCorps: Pacific Northwest-based conservation corps engaging young adults in habitat restoration and trail work; operates a similar crew-based AmeriCorps model but serves a different regional footprint than WisCorps.

Others

• Serve Wisconsin: Wisconsin's state service commission administering AmeriCorps programs statewide; serves as WisCorps' state-level funding and oversight partner, making it an enabling/ecosystem peer rather than a competitor.
• Leave No Trace: Nonprofit promoting outdoor ethics through education and training; WisCorps is an official Community Partner and uses LNT curriculum, making it a directly enabling peer rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Long-established outdoor recreation and conservation nonprofit operating trail crews, volunteer programs, and outdoor education; comparable to WisCorps' trail stewardship and environmental education work but as part of a broader regional portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WisCorps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiscorps
• Instagraminstagram.com/WisCorps

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about WisCorps