The Youth Climate Corps BC (YCCBC) has launched their summer season for 2025, running programs in seven regions around the province, including the East and West Kootenay.
The YCCBC program was started in 2020 by Wildsight, who still runs the East and West Kootenay crews.
YCCBC and Wildsight now work collaboratively to build on their momentum and continue to offer youth in B.C. opportunities for paid, hands-on work that also serves as a means to address climate issues within their communities.
In 2025 YCCBC has expanded their programming in order to reach more rural, remote and Indigenous communities. Here in the Kootenays, 10 youth are spending their summer working on wildfire risk reduction, food security, ecosystem restoration, community engagement, youth leadership development and more.
Last year saw the group's largest impact thus far, with nearly 50 youth completing over 3,400 working days on a number of climate-focused projects.
YCCBC said that interest in the program is surging beyond what they can currently accommodate, receiving 84 applications for the 10 available roles in this year's recruitment cycle for the East and West Kootenay crews. This enthusiasm extends across urban and rural areas around B.C. and their waiting list now extends into 2026 and 2027.
"YCCBC and Wildsight are excited to continue expanding this model across more communities — building a greener, more resilient British Columbia powered by youth leadership," said a YCCBC spokesperson. "Follow along this summer as young people across the province lead climate solutions on the ground and share their stories of impact, connection, and change."
To learn more, visit youthclimatecorps.com or contact info@youthclimatecorps.com
For more information on the East and West YCCBC crews, visit wildsight.ca or contact info@wildsight.ca
